NBA star Steven Adams has warned that the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 in November will have a detrimental effect on professional sports, predicting that league performance will 'plummet' as players focus on the game.
Speaking at a press conference, Adams, who plays for the Houston Rockets, said: 'I will say, you guys should anticipate November. The performance of the league… league wide… GTA is dropping. So look at NFL, look at all the leagues, and watch them, plummet, mate. Just for the month of November, performance is gonna go down.'
Anticipation and Impact
The anticipation for GTA 6 is immense, with many publishers avoiding launching games close to its release, leading to a packed schedule in September and October. Celebrities including Millie Bobby Brown and Lewis Hamilton have expressed excitement, with Hamilton saying he would cancel work plans to play at launch.
Adams added that even coaching scouts will be 'horrendous' but assured that performance will pick back up by December once players have finished the game. His comments drew laughter from the crowd, but he was not joking.
Cultural Phenomenon
GTA 5 is the best-selling traditional video game ever made, with over 220 million sales, making GTA 6's launch a cultural touchstone in entertainment. Based on pre-order figures, GTA 6 is estimated to make roughly half of GTA 5's lifetime revenue in just a week.
This is not the first time a video game has affected athletes. In 2018, The Washington Post reported concerns about athletes becoming addicted to Fortnite, which was rapidly gaining popularity at the time.
PR Stunts and Merchandise
The game's popularity is also being used for PR stunts. In August, a US army battalion reportedly used the game to encourage re-enlistment.
In other GTA 6 news, exclusive T-shirts from the Tokyo Game Show, depicting the four PlayStation buttons with the GTA 6 colour scheme, have appeared on eBay for up to £182. The shirts were free gifts for attendees at the GTA 6 booth, part of a partnership between Sony and Rockstar.
