Rockstar North office reopens after boiler blast as GTA VI development remains on track

Firefighters rushed to the scene following a reported boiler room explosion at Grand Theft Auto VI developer Rockstar North's Edinburgh offices. Thankfully, for those present, the building's structural integrity remained unaffected, with no casualties reported, thanks to the prompt action of rescue services and specialists who arrived at 5:02 a.m.

The explosion occurred at Rockstar North’s Barclay House office on Holyrood Road. Upon hearing distress calls, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service promptly arrived at the scene.

Locals in the area reported hearing a loud explosion that sparked a fire and severely damaged Rockstar North’s office building. Fortunately, first responders quickly brought the situation under control.

A spokesperson for the SFRS confirmed the incident in a public statement to The Herald, saying:

We were alerted at 5:02 a.m. on Monday, January 19, to attend an incident on Holyrood Road, Edinburgh. Operations Control mobilised three fire appliances and specialist resources to the scene, where firefighters worked to secure structural damage at a commercial building. There were no casualties reported, and crews left the scene at 9:21 a.m.

Police officers barricaded the area, including the Rockstar North Edinburgh office and nearby streets, as a precautionary measure. While some speculate foul play, initial inquiries indicate an accidental malfunction was the main cause of the incident.

Rockstar North has been the primary hub for development on the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption series, including ongoing work on GTA VI.

The accident occurred amid ongoing tensions at the studio, where 34 employees were fired for allegedly leaking important GTA VI source material. Former employees and the IWGB union allege that Rockstar is “union-busting” over poor working conditions. Rockstar has denied the union-busting allegations. Furthermore, the affected employees had been denied interim relief earlier.

Rockstar North’s office was shut down for a brief period following the explosion, but recent reports indicate that the building is now fully operational once again.

Rockstar Games has already delayed GTA VI twice, with the game now slated for release on November 19, 2026. Fans are concerned the studio might delay the game following the incident. However, reports state that the accident occurred outside working hours, meaning neither staff nor operational equipment was damaged.

Rockstar Games has not released an official statement on the matter yet.

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