Red Dead Fever: Social-analytics firm claims y’all are playing hooky

Red Dead Redemption 2 is out now, but how do we know if it’s successful? Well, you can use any number of metrics to determine how hot a new game launch is. A publisher may announce early sales figures. Or we can look to Steam’s current player rankings. But I prefer checking social media to see who is calling in sick to work. Thankfully, social-analytics firm Fizziology is tracking that data for us. And it turns out, more people are talking about taking off work on social media than any other video game release so far this year.

Taking a day off to play a new game is something that happens a lot. Some people plan their schedules to take personal days, and others simply fake a cough. I know this because I’ve done both. And the anticipation for Red Dead has obviously weakened some immune systems.