US Army is giving soldiers time off to play GTA 6 as an incentive

A memo apparently circulating out of Fort Stewart, Georgia, is offering soldiers a pretty unusual re-enlistment perk: four days off specifically to play GTA 6 when it launches in November.

The document, which has been circulating on social media, is addressed to personnel of the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion. It reportedly promises a four-day pass to any soldier who signs a re-enlistment contract between August 1 and November 14, 2026, timed to line up with GTA 6's November 19 release on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The exact days off would apparently be worked out between each soldier and their chain of command, but the memo ties them to a window of November 20-23.

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It's worth noting neither the Army nor Fort Stewart has confirmed the memo is genuine, and outlets covering it haven't verified its authenticity either. Details like the commander's name and formatting reportedly check out based on soldiers familiar with the unit, so it looks credible, but it hasn't been officially confirmed as real. This also isn't an Army-wide policy, just one battalion using it as a retention incentive.

Whether real or not, the memo says a lot about where GTA 6 hype currently sits. Pre-orders alone have reportedly pulled in close to $429 million already, with PS5 owners accounting for the bulk of that at 77% of sales. The $100 Ultimate Edition is also apparently outselling the standard $79.99 version by a wide margin, well above what's typical for big AAA releases.

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Rockstar has leaned into that momentum ahead of launch too, with Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look set to premiere on Netflix on August 27, the first time a major publisher has partnered with a streaming platform this way for a gameplay reveal.

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Frequently Asked Questions

TweakBot answers common questions about this news using TweakTown's own coverage from this page and related content from our archive. All answers are generated from TweakTown content and not outside sources. Tap a question to reveal the answer, or type your own below related to this content.

Question #1

Is the Fort Stewart memo offering four days off to play GTA 6 confirmed as genuine by the Army or Fort Stewart?

No. The article states that neither the Army nor Fort Stewart has confirmed the memo is genuine, and outlets covering it have not verified its authenticity.

Answered

Question #2

Which unit is reportedly offering the four-day GTA 6 pass and what are the eligible re-enlistment dates mentioned in the memo?

The memo is addressed to personnel of the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion, and it reportedly offers a four-day pass to any soldier who signs a re-enlistment contract between August 1 and November 14, 2026, with the tied days off falling in the November 20 to 23 window.

Answered

Question #3

What specific November dates does the memo tie the four-day pass to for soldiers who re-enlist?

The memo ties the four-day pass to the November 20-23 window. This is reported in the primary article.

Answered

Question #4

Is this re-enlistment incentive described as an Army-wide policy or limited to a single battalion?

It is described as limited to a single battalion, not an Army-wide policy. The memo is addressed to personnel of the 9th Brigade Engineer Battalion and the article states it is just one battalion using the offer as a retention incentive.

Answered

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If a US Army unit really is using GTA 6 as leverage to keep soldiers enlisted, it's a pretty clear sign of how far the game's cultural reach extends beyond the usual pre-order numbers and trailer views. It remains to be seen whether other professions follow suit, or if this ends up being an isolated case once November arrives.