An early morning explosion at the Edinburgh headquarters of Rockstar North triggered a major emergency response on Monday, raising immediate concerns among fans waiting for Grand Theft Auto 6.
Fire crews were called to the developer’s Holyrood Road studio at around 5:02 am on January 19, after reports of an explosion inside the building. Police quickly cordoned off the area as emergency services worked to secure the site.
Emergency Response In Holyrood, Edinburgh
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it mobilised multiple vehicles to the scene, including three fire appliances and specialist resources. In total, up to seven SFRS vehicles were seen attending the incident as crews assessed structural damage inside the commercial building.
According to officials, firefighters remained on site for more than three hours. The cordon stayed in place while crews ensured the building was safe before leaving at approximately 9:21 am.
Importantly, there were no reported injuries.
Boiler Explosion Identified As Likely Cause
While the exact circumstances are still being reviewed, early reports from people on the ground suggested the explosion occurred in a boiler room. Damage appeared to be limited, with visible impact contained to an area on the top floor of the building.
A Rockstar North spokesperson later confirmed the incident was caused by a malfunction in one of the studio’s heating boilers, easing fears of a more serious structural or electrical issue.
Rockstar Confirms Studio Remains Operational
In a statement released later in the day, Rockstar thanked emergency responders and reassured the public that development work would continue as normal.
“Many thanks to those that reached out with concern, and also to the police and fire crews who were on scene quickly to assess the situation,” the spokesperson said. “Everyone is well and our studio remains open and operational.”
The Edinburgh studio is a key development hub for Grand Theft Auto 6, which is currently scheduled to launch on consoles in November following two previous delays.
GTA 6 Development Unaffected By Incident
News of the explosion initially sparked worries within the GTA community that the highly anticipated release could face further delays. However, Rockstar has moved quickly to shut down those concerns, confirming that work on the game will not be impacted.
Update: Rockstar Games confirms development was not affected by the explosion:
“Please know that everyone is well and our studio remains open and operational.”
(Source: https://t.co/47OdWktOwk) https://t.co/06OyATh0qn
— GTA 6 Countdown ⏳ (@GTAVI_Countdown) January 19, 2026
Rockstar North has played a central role in every major Grand Theft Auto release, as well as the Red Dead Redemption series, making the studio’s status closely watched by fans worldwide.
Ongoing Scrutiny Around Rockstar North
The incident comes during a tense period for the studio. Rockstar North has recently faced criticism and legal scrutiny over alleged union busting, after dozens of employees working on GTA 6 were reportedly dismissed. The dispute has drawn national attention in the UK, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously describing the situation as deeply concerning.
Despite the controversy and Monday’s emergency, Rockstar has made it clear that its Edinburgh operation remains fully functional, and that Grand Theft Auto 6 is still on track for its planned release window.