The launch of GTA 6 is expected to be one of the biggest events in video game history, with millions of players waiting to get their hands on the title. Many gamers are already planning to take time off work to play it. Estimates suggest that requests for leave could rise by 17 per cent around its November 19 release date.
The excitement is not limited to the US, as fans in several countries are also making plans for launch day. In Germany, however, players have found an unusual way to take time off without risking their jobs, thanks to a legally recognised paid learning leave programme.
Known as Bildungsurlaub, the programme allows eligible employees in Germany to take paid leave to attend certified educational courses. A new three-day course titled 'Open World Games: Lessons from a Digital World' is using this provision to offer participants an opportunity to explore GTA 6 between November 18 and 20. According to a press release shared with IGN, the course has 60 available places and focuses on storytelling, digital culture and teamwork through open-world games.
“Modern learning should meet people where their curiosity already lives. Open worlds are built on stories, choices, communities, and constant problem-solving. That makes them powerful places to learn,” says Carlo Dreschel, founder of course provider Dein Bildungsurlaub.
“Like many other educational providers, we've incorporated elements of gaming, such as role-playing, simulations, game mechanics and reward systems, into learning experiences before. But with ‘Open World Games,’ we're taking that approach to an entirely new level," Dreschel added.
Participants will work in guided groups and complete activities within the game. These exercises will help them understand concepts such as storytelling, player motivation, community building and collaboration. The course will also examine how features such as Easter eggs keep players engaged, and how similar techniques can be applied to brands, educational programmes and workplaces.
To participate, applicants must be at least 18 years old and have access to a compatible gaming device and a licensed open-world game. The programme will run online over three days, with an additional in-person event scheduled in Berlin.
Germany is not the only country preparing for the impact of GTA 6 on workplaces. Australia's workplace regulator has reportedly shared a graphic explaining employees' paid leave rights ahead of the game's launch. Meanwhile, a flyer from the 9th Engineer Battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia, went viral in July after offering recruits a four-day pass to play GTA 6 as part of a special reenlistment incentive.
