Archive · 20 Jan 2026
Rockstar North Boiler Explosion in Edinburgh
There was a big boom and fire at the Rockstar North office in Edinburgh, Scotland, where they make the Grand Theft Auto games.
Firefighters came quickly and worked for hours to make sure the building was safe.
No one got hurt, and everything was fixed by 9:20 in the morning.
The boom happened because something went wrong with the building's boiler, which is like a big heater.
The firefighters used special tools to help, and the office will probably need some repairs.
Some people thought this might delay the new Grand Theft Auto game, but the company said everything is still on schedule.
A boiler explosion and subsequent fire occurred at Rockstar North's Edinburgh offices.
Emergency crews from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service responded just after 5 a.m.
Three fire engines and specialized equipment were deployed to the scene.
Firefighters worked for several hours to address structural concerns.
No injuries or casualties were reported, and operations concluded by 9:20 a.m.
- Who
- Rockstar North, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS)
- What
- Boiler explosion and fire at Rockstar North's offices
- When
- Just after 5 a.m. local time, resolved by 9:20 a.m.
- Where
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Why
- Boiler explosion caused a fire in the commercial building
GTA VI Fans
Rockstar Games
Impact on GTA VI Release
GTA VI Fans
The explosion could delay the release of GTA VI due to potential disruptions in development.
Rockstar Games
The explosion did not affect development, and GTA VI remains on schedule.
- Location
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Time of Incident
- 5 a.m. local time
- Responding Agency
- Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS)
- Injuries
- None reported
- Duration of Operations
- Until 9:20 a.m.
- Impact on Development
- No disruption to development or data infrastructure
- Global Impact
- Speculation about potential delays caused volatility in gaming markets
Sources
Rockstar North Boiler Explosion: GTA 6 Studio Hit by Blast in Edinburgh
After explosion at Rockstar Games HQ, is GTA 6 again postponed? We have the answer
Rockstar North quells GTA VI delay fears after explosion at Edinburgh studio
