German Workers Get Legal Paid Leave to Play GTA 6 for a 'Learning' Course
A German labor law loophole is letting a select few employees take legally protected time off to play Grand Theft Auto VI at launch. According to IGN, a state-funded educational program will allow 60 participants to use their paid "Bildungsurlaub" (learning leave) for a course centered on the game.
The three-day online program, called "Open World Games: Lessons from a Digital World," runs from November 18 through 20. Per the outlet, it aims to use the game to teach about narrative, digital culture, and teamwork. Participants will complete in-game tasks in groups and analyze how elements like Easter eggs foster player engagement.
Carlo Dreschel, founder of the course provider Dein Bildungsurlaub, told IGN that open worlds are built on stories and problem-solving, making them powerful learning tools. One enrolled student, a 23-year-old Berlin accountant named Victoria, said she hopes the experience of a virtual car chase might help her manage stressful clients.
To join, applicants must be legal adults and own both a capable gaming system and a copy of an open-world title. The course includes an optional in-person event in Berlin.
IGN notes other countries are also bracing for the game's impact. Australia's workplace regulator recently reminded workers of their leave options, and a U.S. Army battalion previously offered a re-enlistment incentive featuring a four-day pass for the launch.
