The GTA Flu

PRESENTED BY PENDULUM

Happy Friday, Future Party. In one of the funniest marketing stunts in recent memory, Paramount’s upcoming adaptation of Ebenezer created a Venmo account for its title character — Ebenezer Scrooge, played by Johnny Depp in his first studio role in eight years. Users can send the account actual money (which it apparently accepts), but when they request payments from the account… they’re met with an error stating that “the transaction could not be completed.” That’s certainly one way to start making money back on the movie.

A new survey found that a massive number of Americans are expected to take the day off on November 19 to play Grand Theft Auto VI when it launches.

The Big Picture: Taking a day off for, or directly after, a major cultural event isn’t new… but it’s never happened on this scale for the debut of a video game. But GTA VI is no ordinary video game — it’s the next installment of one of the best-selling franchises in the industry’s history, 13 years in the making. In fact, it has reportedly made $630 million in pre-orders alone. That’s a lot of people ready to play the game the moment it drops.

Behind The Gameplay: Do you have a case of the “GTA flu?”

A survey by GameSquare and Pollfish lists the symptoms.

Those are some serious symptoms, especially considering that “78% of Americans don’t take all their vacation days each year, and 47% feel guilty about taking time off at all,” per Fast Company.

Last Request: With over 190 million Americans considering themselves gamers, OOO emails are about to be sent like never before in a month’s time. In fact, one Spanish economist estimates that GTA-related absences will cost the US $1 billion in lost productivity — and that’s a conservative estimate. No wonder some companies, like California-based Burger Motorsports, have issued a “temporary company-wide operational pause” after realizing just how many employees would be out.

Sometimes, you just have to accept the inevitable.

Next Level: November 19 could mark the single biggest productivity drop tied to a piece of entertainment in recent memory. Wild.

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Most full-time employed Gen Zers and millennials now take on extra work to pay the bills.

Why It Hurts: Previous generations could reasonably expect to cover their expenses with one full-time job. But mounting inflation, rising living costs, and the price of basic necessities are breaking budgets in ways that modest wage increases can’t keep up with. Because of that, side hustles aren’t just hustles anymore… they’re becoming a necessary means of survival.

Between The Roles: A survey from Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Escalent found that young Americans are overworked.

Insider breaks down the findings.

Clock Out: While many people hold multiple jobs to build a “portfolio career” or “stability stack,” most aren’t doing so for such a strategic reason. The report concluded that “the traditional full-time job may no longer be carrying the full weight of financial security. For many, supplementing income appears to have become part of the baseline.”

Not having enough money to cover daily needs has had a significant impact on Gen Zers and millennials — 41% of millennials and 35% of Gen Zers haven’t saved for emergencies despite being employed. Meanwhile, 30% of millennials and 34% of Gen Zers have delayed buying a home.

The Future: Soon, it may be normal to double major in college just to build two separate career tracks simultaneously. But where’s the time for all that supposed to come from?

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44.6% of you voted Yes, I love it in yesterday’s poll: Do you enjoy BBQ?

“BBQ is the essence of life. There is actually no way to mess it up unless you are a restaurant feeding thousands. Figure out the smoke flavor you like and enjoy the rest of your life low and slow.”

“What’s fun about BBQ is all the different options. You have Kansas City, Texas, Carolina, and so on. My preference is the sweet sauce, but everyone has their favorite. Nothing beats the taste of smoked or grilled meat.”

“VINEGAR is superior, sweet is gross, and the rest are in between.”

“NC vinegar-based is the best!”

“I’m from the South, and BBQ is one of the main reasons I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I’m not a fan of the culture or politics, but when it comes to food, nowhere else comes close.”

“That’s a hard no for me. I haven’t eaten anything with eyes in over 30 years, and now, in my mid-sixties, I’m healthier and younger-looking than many of my peers and medication-free.”

Let’s keep the conversation going. Join Poll Of The Day, so your opinions can shine. Discover how your views line up with your peers’, check out cool insights, and have some fun. It’s data with personality.

⚽ The bidding for US broadcast rights to the 2030 World Cup (and maybe 2034) is officially open.

🎥 Amazon MGM Studios is reportedly preparing to hold final screen tests with four or five actors to decide who will play the next James Bond.

🎸 John Mayer has started his own record label, Sob Rock Records, in partnership with Mercury Records.

💰 Mark Zuckerberg got Meta’s board to overhaul its stock structure to help keep him in California if the state’s proposed wealth tax passes.

👀 As expected, SpaceX and Tesla have formed special committees to explore a potential merger.

🩺 Microsoft AI head Mustafa Suleyman claims the company’s AI can diagnose complex medical cases more than twice as accurately as doctors in simulated tests.

👜 Softening demand in China is hurting luxury powerhouses like Kering and Hermès.

🎧 Bose has acquired Skullcandy to better reach younger consumers.

🧹 Airbnb is restricting the checkout chores hosts can require guests to do. Finally.