A unit of the U.S. army is providing a special incentive for its soldiers to re-enlist by offering them an extra four days off aligned with the release of the highly anticipated video game Grand Theft Auto VI in November. The 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion, stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, believes that granting time for troops to enjoy the new installment of the popular game, known for its carjackings, police shootouts, and daring heists, will influence some personnel to extend their military service.
Grand Theft Auto VI is set to launch on November 19 and is anticipated to be a major entertainment event of 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.”
The concept of linking a retention bonus to the release of the game was devised by a career counselor alongside battalion leaders to help soldiers remember their upcoming re-enlistment dates, according to Lt. Col. Angel Tomko, a spokesperson for Fort Stewart. The army aimed to create a unique incentive program tailored to soldiers’ interests.
A memo issued by battalion commanders informed soldiers that those who re-enlist by November 14 will be granted a special four-day pass in conjunction with the debut of Grand Theft Auto VI. At least 20 out of 130 eligible soldiers have taken advantage of the bonus offer, committing to serving an additional two years in the military.
Grand Theft Auto VI has been generating excitement since 2023, with its initial cinematic trailer showcasing a return to the fictitious Vice City, a Miami-inspired setting, and an expanded range of Florida-based environments including alligator-filled swamps. Rockstar Games, the developer, plans to unveil gameplay footage in an extended trailer on Netflix, following a leak of apparent footage by hackers online earlier this week.