A U.S. military unit is incentivizing its soldiers to re-enlist by offering them a unique bonus of four additional days off coinciding with the launch 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 soldiers time to engage in the game’s immersive world of carjackings, shootouts with police, and daring heists will persuade some to extend their military service.

The upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto VI on November 19 is anticipated to be a major entertainment event of the year. Take-Two Interactive, the game’s publisher, has not disclosed pre-order sales figures but has described the demand as “unprecedented and astonishing,” according to CEO Strauss Zelnick.

The concept of linking a retention incentive to the game’s launch was conceived by a career counselor within the army engineer battalion, in collaboration with unit commanders, to raise awareness among soldiers about their upcoming re-enlistment deadlines. Lieutenant Colonel Angel Tomko, a spokesperson for Fort Stewart, confirmed that the intention was to create a unique rewards program aligned with soldiers’ interests.

In a memo circulated to troops, the battalion commanders outlined that service members who renew their contracts by November 14 will be granted a special four-day pass. This pass is specifically timed to coincide with the release of Grand Theft Auto VI, as stated by battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Hodgson.

The authenticity of the memo, dated July 28, was verified by Tomko, who mentioned that approximately 20 out of 130 eligible soldiers have already opted in for the bonus offer. To be eligible, soldiers must commit to serving an additional two years in the military.

Anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI has been mounting since 2023, especially after the release of its initial cinematic trailer showcasing a return to the fictional Vice City, a satirical representation of Miami, along with new Florida-based settings, including gator-filled swamps. Developer Rockstar Games has generated significant buzz by planning to reveal gameplay footage in an extended trailer on Netflix next week, after an unplanned leak of apparent footage by hackers earlier this week.