Small businesses could face a concentration of annual-leave requests in November, according to research commissioned by MoneySuperMarket Business Insurance ahead of the planned launch of Grand Theft Auto VI.
The survey found that 65% of open-world gamers working at SMEs intend to take time off to play GTA 6. More than half (54%) plan to take at least one full day, while a quarter expect to take more than a day’s annual leave.
Younger staff most likely to book leave
More than seven in ten open-world gamers aged 18–24 and 25–34 said they plan to take leave. The research says employers with small teams could face operational pressure if multiple requests fall around the same date.
“In smaller teams, having a few people off at the same time can have a serious impact on workflows.”
Alicia Hempsted, Business Insurance Expert, MoneySuperMarket
Alicia Hempsted, Business Insurance Expert at MoneySuperMarket, said: “GTA 6 is one of the most highly anticipated game releases in years. With so much hype behind the game, it’s understandable that many employed gamers are planning to take annual leave to make the most of it.
“Whilst everyone is entitled to annual leave, employers may need to plan ahead to avoid disruption. Agreeing annual leave requests early, staggering time off across the team, and setting rotas in advance can help gamers enjoy the launch and avoid disruption for your business.”
Alicia Hempsted, Business Insurance Expert, MoneySuperMarket
Methodology
MoneySuperMarket commissioned Censuswide to survey 500 employed open-world gamers between 25 and 30 September 2026. The SME analysis covers 301 respondents working in organisations with fewer than 250 employees.
Submitted by Luci Schalch, Propellernet, on behalf of MoneySuperMarket Business Insurance
