Rockstar North's Edinburgh office was the scene of an early morning explosion that drew seven Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) vehicles at around 5 am local time. The fire crews worked for approximately three hours to secure the building, establishing a cordon around the site. Despite the intensity of the incident, no injuries were reported.
The explosion was confirmed as originating from a malfunction in one of the building's heating boilers. Firefighters focused on assessing structural damage while ensuring the safety of the surrounding area. Operations Control mobilized three fire appliances and specialist resources to respond to the call at , with crews departing the scene by .
Rockstar North has stated that all employees are accounted for and that the studio remains operational. The incident did not disrupt ongoing work on Grand Theft Auto 6, which is scheduled for a November release after two previous delays. The studio has also faced recent controversy over allegations of union-related practices involving the game's development team.
The explosion adds another layer of complexity to Rockstar North's operations, which have been under scrutiny due to labor disputes and ongoing production challenges. Despite these hurdles, the studio continues its focus on delivering the highly anticipated title, maintaining its position as a key player in the gaming industry.
