An American military unit is providing a special incentive to encourage its soldiers to re-enlist by offering them an extra four days off around the time of the launch of the video game Grand Theft Auto VI in November.
Leaders of the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, believe that granting time off for soldiers to enjoy the latest installment in the Grand Theft Auto series, known for its carjackings, police shootouts, and daring heists, will influence some troops to extend their service.
The release of Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19 is anticipated to be a major entertainment event for the year. Take-Two Interactive, the game publisher, has not disclosed pre-order sales figures, but CEO Strauss Zelnick described them as “unprecedented and astonishing.”
A career counselor at the army engineer battalion collaborated with leaders to link a retention incentive to the game’s launch, aiming to remind soldiers of their upcoming re-enlistment deadlines, as stated by Lt. Col. Angel Tomko, a spokesperson for Fort Stewart.
Tomko explained that the intention was to create a unique rewards program aligned with soldiers’ interests. The battalion issued a memo offering a “special four-day pass” to soldiers who re-enlist by November 14, coinciding with the release of Grand Theft Auto VI, according to Lt. Col. Ryan Hodgson, the battalion commander.
The authenticity of the memo dated July 28 was verified by Tomko, who mentioned that 20 out of 130 eligible soldiers have already opted for the bonus. To be eligible, soldiers must commit to serving a minimum of two more years in the military.
Excitement for Grand Theft Auto VI has been growing since 2023 when its initial cinematic trailer revealed a return to the fictional Vice City, a satirical representation of Miami, and an expanded range of Florida-based settings, including gator-filled swamps.
The anticipation surrounding the game has led developer Rockstar Games to plan the release of gameplay footage in an extended trailer on Netflix next week. This move came after hackers leaked apparent game footage online earlier this week.
