Dreaming of ditching work to cruise around Vice City on 19 November? Australia's workplace regulator has stepped in with a reality check for gamers eyeing to play Grand Theft Auto VI on launch day, and the message is simple: feeling like a day off doesn't give you the right to one.
But maybe we can work around that, sort of. The Fair Work Ombudsman has dropped a cheeky guide for workers who still want to play GTA 6 on launch day.
The message is clear: Australian workers cannot automatically claim unpaid leave just because they want to play a video game. However, there is another option for fans desperate to get behind the wheel of Rockstar's long-awaited blockbuster — asking their boss for time off.
Can You Take Unpaid Leave To Play GTA 6?
The Fair Work Ombudsman's guide imagines a familiar dilemma: GTA 6 is launching tomorrow, but you have no paid leave left. Can you still take the day off?
Under Australia's National Employment Standards, employees have specific rights to unpaid leave in certain circumstances. These include caring for a sick or injured family member, qualifying community service activities and eligible parental leave.
But these entitlements are not loopholes for gamers.
Eligible employees can take unpaid carer's leave to care for a sick or injured family or household member. Community service leave covers qualifying activities, including certain voluntary emergency management duties, while unpaid parental leave is available to eligible workers caring for a new child.
Wanting to explore Vice City does not qualify.
There is, however, a potential solution for employees who have exhausted their annual leave. They can request unpaid time off, but their employer does not automatically have to approve it.
The simplest option is to speak to a manager in advance and see whether an agreement can be reached.
In other words, getting permission could be the difference between spending launch day causing chaos in the fictional streets of Miami while you sit at your desk.
The joke from Australia's workplace regulator isn't far from the truth. Workers are hoarding leave like it's loot, and the Wall Street Journal reports one software engineer has booked five days off around launch day.
The Clash Between Gaming Hype and Working Life
For Australian gamers, the biggest mission on 19 November may have nothing to do with robbing banks or escaping the police. It could be convincing their boss to let them stay home.
Unfortunately, there is no cheat code for unpaid leave, and not every manager will be willing to let employees disappear into Vice City for the day.
And there could be quite a lot to miss. A new report has detailed 35 GTA 6 features, from bizarre encounters and more realistic character interactions to elaborate robberies and unexpected activities that could turn a quick trip across town into an hours-long distraction.
GTA 6's 35 Reported Features Could Make It Harder To Log Off
A report based on an IGN interview and gameplay demonstration has detailed 35 GTA 6 features that could make it difficult for players to put the controller down.
According to VICE's report, switching between Jason and Lucia can reveal unexpected moments, including Jason taking a shower, while the pair can exchange everyday text messages and take turns driving.
Other reported features include a lawyer living in a dumpster, dogs players can pet or scold, wildlife checklists and strangers who may react if followed for too long.
Robberies could also require strategic decisions, with blasting open a safe potentially damaging its contents, while vehicle trackers can alert police if stolen cars are driven too slowly.
Rockstar has confirmed on its official website that GTA 6 is scheduled to launch on 19 November 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S.
With so much to discover, Australian gamers may have plenty of reasons to request launch day off. Whether their boss agrees is another mission entirely.
