GTA 6 Studio Temporarily Evacuated After Boiler Explosion

Early on Monday, a significant response from first responders, including six fire engines, took place at Rockstar North’s Edinburgh office following reports of structural damage linked to an apparent explosion. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

A spokesperson for the emergency services stated, “We were alerted at 5:02 a.m. on Monday, 19 January, to an incident on Holyrood Road, Edinburgh. Operations Control dispatched three fire appliances and specialized resources to the scene, where firefighters worked to secure the structural damage at a commercial building. There were no reported casualties, and crews departed the scene at 9:21 a.m.”

Rockstar later clarified that the explosion stemmed from a malfunction in one of the heating boilers, assuring that the studio remains fully operational as it gears up for the launch of GTA 6 in November.

“Early Monday morning, there was a malfunction in one of the heating boilers at Rockstar North,” a spokesperson for the studio mentioned. “We appreciate the concern from those who reached out, as well as the quick response from the police and fire crews who assessed the situation—everyone is safe, and our studio is open and operational.”

The office has also been in the spotlight due to an ongoing labor dispute involving 31 developers who were terminated while attempting to unionize. The workers allege they were targeted for their organizing efforts, while Rockstar contends they were dismissed for breaching confidentiality rules, including leaking development and gameplay details in a union Discord channel.

Recently, a judge reviewing the case denied the fired developers immediate relief in the form of back pay, but a comprehensive ruling on the merits of the complaint is still forthcoming.