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Emergency services called after explosion at Rockstar North offices

A boiler malfunction caused structural damage at Rockstar North's Edinburgh HQ with no injuries reported, emergency crews secured the site after a four-hour response, Scottish Fire and Rescue said.

  • On Monday, January 19, Rockstar North's Edinburgh offices were closed after emergency services responded to a major explosion causing structural damage at Barclay House, Holyrood Road.
  • The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said a boiler explosion was the most likely cause, while a Rockstar North spokesman reported a heating boiler malfunction early Monday morning.
  • Operations Control mobilised three pumps and four specialist appliances, and Police Scotland and fire crews taped off the building to secure the area.
  • It remains too early to say whether the closure will delay Grand Theft Auto VI, scheduled for Nov. 19, 2026, as developers at Rockstar North continue working on the game.
  • Labour disputes have kept Rockstar North in the spotlight as the building recently hosted protests after layoffs tied to a union dispute, and staff say 31 employees were sacked in October, with the studio being the core of Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption development.
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It is not yet known whether the accident will cause further delays in the development of the game, which has been postponed many times.

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edinburghlive.co.uk broke the news in on Monday, January 19, 2026.
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