Rockstar North Resumes Operations Following Boiler Issue

Update: 15:40, 19/1: A representative from Rockstar has stated that the Edinburgh studio is now 'open and operational' after the fire department responded to an incident at the offices earlier in the day. According to the spokesperson, 'There was a malfunction in one of the heating boilers at Rockstar North early on Monday morning.' The spokesperson expressed gratitude to those who showed concern and to the emergency responders who quickly assessed the situation, adding that 'everyone is well and our studio remains open and operational.' Initially, the fire department was called to Rockstar North's offices due to a reported explosion early Monday morning. The Herald reported that seven vehicles from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were sent to the Grand Theft Auto developer's Edinburgh headquarters on Holyrood Road after an alarm went off around 5 am. Firefighters left the scene after three hours, having ensured the Rockstar North offices were safe and secured 'structure damage' sustained by the building. Fortunately, there were no casualties. While the exact cause of the fire has not been disclosed, it is believed to have resulted from an 'explosion in a boiler room.' A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service stated, 'We received an alert at 5:02 am on Monday, 19 January, to attend an incident on Holyrood Road, Edinburgh.' The spokesperson continued, 'Our 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 reported casualties, and crews left the scene at 9:21 am.' GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two, for additional information. Rockstar North, the developer of the Grand Theft Auto series, is set to release the sixth installment in the series in November 2026, after experiencing two delays. The company has recently faced criticism for laying off over 30 staff members, which the IWGB Game Workers claims is an act of union-busting, and has taken legal action against the company. Last week, a judge at the Glasgow Employment Tribunal denied the union's request for interim relief.