Paulo Avelino may have found a reason to put showbiz on hold — and apparently, it has nothing to do with acting.
The 38-year-old actor had fans laughing after posting a mock retirement announcement inspired by the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto VI and Path of Exile 2.
Avelino framed the joke like a serious farewell, saying he had arrived at the decision after prayer and conversations at home. He even declared that he would step away from movies, teleseryes and endorsements beginning October 31.
Then came the real reason.
“GTA 6 is out November 19. PoE 2 hits 1.0 on December 11, and they finally added swords. I watched the Extended Look last night, and I have not been okay since,” he wrote.
The post came after Rockstar Games released an extended look at GTA VI, giving players a longer preview of Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos and the game’s sprawling setting of Leonida, which includes the series’ fictional Vice City.
Avelino took the gag even further by joking about the possible consequences of abandoning his commitments.
“Please tell everyone lining up to sue me that I’m available March 2027. I’ll have 100% GTA completion and a build nobody can touch by then. Sue me at my peak,” he wrote.
He also had one request for fans: “Wag niyo ako i-tag sa clips. Babalik din ako. Basta. God bless po.”
Avelino, of course, is not actually retiring.
The joke works particularly well for longtime followers who know that gaming is more than an occasional pastime for the actor. His references to both GTA VI and Path of Exile 2 made the post sound less like a celebrity jumping on a gaming trend and more like a gamer already planning what could become a very busy holiday season.
Avelino has been in Philippine entertainment since joining StarStruck in 2006. His career has since included acclaimed film and television performances, including Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa, Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral and Linlang.
For now, his acting career remains intact.
His free time around November 19, however, is another matter.