The US says you can play GTA 6 for four days if you reenlist with the Army

Grand Theft Auto VI leads Lucia and Jason.Credit: Rockstar Games Published Aug 20, 2026, 10:54 AM EDT Jon is a seasoned journalist who has written definitive coverage of consumer tech at publications like Engadget, Android Authority, and BetaKit. He's an expert on making tech accessible ranging from mobile and PCs to emerging platforms like wearables. When he's not writing, he's going on adventures with ihis family and is an avid photographer. Sign in to your How-To Geek account How determined are you to play Grand Theft Auto VI? If you're in the right U.S. Army unit, you only need to commit to years of military service. Soldiers in the Georgia-based 9th Brigade Engineering Battalion have been offered a four-day pass to play Rockstar's upcoming blockbuster game if they reenlist. Any member of the active-duty unit who reenlists between August 1 and November 14 will get the pass in sync with the GTA 6 launch on November 19, according to a circulating memo. Troops have to sign up for two to six years, and their leaders will have to approve the exact dates. Grand Theft Auto 6 Systems Released November 19, 2026 Genre(s) Action, Adventure Commanders wanted an incentive that "connects to what soldiers are interested in," spokesperson Lt. Col Agenl Tomko tells CBS News in a statement. Officials report that 20 of the 130 qualifying soldiers in the battalion have already accepted the deal. There are no indications other units are adopting the strategy so far. The U.S. Army has routinely provided reenlistment incentives that include time off, free college tuition, and special training schools. However, they haven't tied those perks to video game launches before—the unit's career counselor hopes the draw of GTA VI will motivate young soldiers who would otherwise bow out. Grand Theft Auto VI is already a cultural phenomenon It could be the largest entertainment launch ever Rockstar hasn't been shy about wanting GTA 6 to be the largest entertainment event to date, according to its publisher Take-Two, and industry experts believe that's more than just talk. Newzoo analysts estimate that the Miami-inspired open-world crime game has already produced $260 million in global pre-order revenue, and could generate between $3.25 billion and $5.2 billion in revenue during its first week. Even the highest-grossing movie to date, this summer's Spider-Man: Brand New Day, generated 'just' $510.1 million in worldwide box office revenue from its first week in theaters. Movie tickets are more affordable than games, but Rockstar is still poised to do well in the sheer number of copies sold. The game is the first in the franchise for 13 years, but GTA 5's enduring popularity (including GTA Online) has given the sequel an outsized cultural impact. Other game studios are shifting release dates to avoid clashing with GTA 6, and Netflix considers the title so important that it secured a six-hour exclusive for an "Extended Look" trailer. As such, it's no surprise at least one military unit sees GTA 6 as a reenlistment tool. The release could draw interest from those soldiers who were inclined to continue service, but didn't want to miss playing largest game of the decade.