A U.S. military unit is incentivizing its soldiers with a special offer to re-enlist promptly: an extra four days off coinciding with the release of Grand Theft Auto VI in November. The 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, believes that providing leisure time for troops to engage with the new installment of the popular video game series may influence some personnel to prolong their service commitments.
Anticipation is high for the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19, with industry experts predicting it to be a major entertainment event of the year. While exact pre-order sales figures have not been disclosed by game publisher Take-Two Interactive, CEO Strauss Zelnick has described them as “unprecedented and astonishing.”
A career advisor within the army engineer battalion collaborated with leadership to link a retention benefit to the video game’s debut, aiming to serve as a reminder to soldiers about their upcoming re-enlistment deadlines, according to Lt. Col. Angel Tomko, a spokesperson for Fort Stewart. The initiative was designed to offer a unique incentive aligned with soldiers’ interests, as stated by Tomko in a communication with The Associated Press.
In a memo circulated to troops, battalion commanders outlined that individuals who finalize re-enlistment agreements by November 14 will be granted “a special four-day pass.” This pass has been strategically timed to align with the highly awaited release of Grand Theft Auto VI, stated battalion commander Lt. Col. Ryan Hodgson.
Confirmation of the authenticity of the July 28 memo, which was shared online after being photographed, was provided by Tomko. She noted that over 20 out of 130 eligible soldiers have already enlisted for the bonus, with a requirement to commit to a minimum of two additional years of service.
Excitement surrounding Grand Theft Auto VI has been escalating since 2023, especially after the unveiling of its initial cinematic trailer showcasing a return to the fictional Vice City, a satirical representation of Miami, and an expanded range of Florida-based settings, including alligator-filled swamps.
To heighten anticipation, game developer Rockstar Games is planning to unveil gameplay footage next week through an extended trailer on Netflix. This revelation was expedited following an online leak of apparent gameplay footage by hackers earlier this week.