GTA 6 Developer Rockstar North "Open and Operational" After Fire Crews Rush to Explosion

Emergency crews descended on Rockstar North's Edinburgh headquarters early Monday morning after a boiler explosion caused structural damage to the building. No injuries occurred.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service received the emergency call at 5:02am on 19 January. Three fire engines and specialist resources rushed to Holyrood Road, where the GTA 6 developer occupies Barclay House.

Fire crews worked for over four hours to secure the commercial building. They left the scene at 9:21am after confirming no casualties.

What Caused the Explosion?

Multiple sources reported the blast originated from a boiler room within the facility. Police cordoned off the surrounding area as firefighters assessed the damage.

A structural engineer later examined the building. The assessment found the damage was "superficial" with no significant structural compromise, according to The National.

Some reports suggested the explosion occurred late Sunday evening, though official statements confirm emergency services responded Monday morning.

Rockstar Confirms Studio Operational

Rockstar Games issued a statement addressing the incident Monday afternoon.

"Early Monday morning, there was a malfunction in one of the heating boilers at Rockstar North," the spokesperson said.

The company thanked local emergency services and concerned community members. "Please know that everyone is well and our studio remains open and operational."

The confirmation will ease concerns among GTA 6 fans worried about potential development delays. The highly anticipated title already faced two postponements before its scheduled November 2026 release.

Timing Raises Questions

The explosion occurred when the building appeared largely empty. The 5am timeframe suggests minimal staff presence, likely preventing any injuries.

Fire crews mobilised quickly. Three pumps and four specialist appliances attended the scene, treating the situation as a major incident during its early stages.

Police maintained the security cordon even after firefighters departed. Officers ensured public safety whilst engineers completed their structural assessment.

Recent Controversies at Rockstar North

The Edinburgh studio has faced significant scrutiny in recent weeks. Rockstar dismissed over 30 employees, predominantly from the North location, for allegedly leaking confidential information.

Local politicians and union representatives criticised the mass firings. The Independent Workers of Great Britain brought the case before an employment tribunal, seeking interim pay for affected workers.

Edinburgh councillors challenged Rockstar over the dismissals. Even UK Prime Minister involvement followed, highlighting the political sensitivity surrounding one of Scotland's most prominent game development studios.

GTA 6 Development Continues

Grand Theft Auto 6 remains on track for its 19 November 2026 launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

The game has suffered multiple delays. Rockstar initially planned a Fall 2025 release before pushing to May 2026. Developers cited the need for additional "polish" when announcing the most recent postponement.

One report claimed work continues on levels and missions, suggesting the game still lacks completion. However, Rockstar has not confirmed these development status claims.

The studio confirmed all staff are safe and operations continue normally following Monday's incident. Development work appears unaffected by the boiler malfunction.

Emergency Response Details

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service described their response in an official statement.

"Operations Control mobilised three fire appliances and specialist resources to the scene, where firefighters worked to secure structural damage at a commercial building," the spokesperson explained.

Seven emergency vehicles attended at the incident's peak. The coordinated response between fire crews and police ensured swift containment.

No casualties occurred during the explosion or subsequent fire. The early morning timing meant the building's occupancy remained minimal.

Edinburgh residents reported hearing the blast. Some social media posts described seeing emergency vehicles and police tape surrounding the prominent Holyrood Road building.

The swift all-clear from structural engineers allowed Rockstar to resume normal operations quickly. Staff returned to work without extended disruption.

Rockstar North has not announced any changes to its development schedule or working arrangements following the incident.