GTA 6 Developer Rockstar North’s Boiler Explodes — Right After Announcing Delay and Firing Union Employees
Rockstar North’s Edinburgh headquarters dealt with a boiler explosion and small fire early Monday, the core studio behind GTA 6, months after a release delay for the game and firings tied to union activity.
Here’s the TL;DR...
A heating boiler malfunction sparked an explosion around 5 a.m. local time at the Holyrood Road office, causing structural damage but no injuries.
Fire crews cleared the scene by 9:21 a.m.; Rockstar North reopened and called itself fully operational.
GTA 6 stays on track for November 19, 2026, despite the hiccup and prior delays.
Fans flooded X with jokes about another postponement, while the studio faces ongoing lawsuits from fired workers.
What Caused the Explosion at Rockstar North?
Emergency crews rushed to Rockstar North at 5:02 a.m. on January 19 after alarms signaled trouble.
A heating boiler failed, leading to the blast in a boiler room and minor fire.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service sent three appliances plus specialists to secure the damage.
How Did Emergency Services Respond to Rockstar North Fire?
Six to seven fire vehicles arrived within minutes.
Crews taped off the site and worked for over four hours.
They departed at 9:21 a.m. with the building safe.
No one got hurt, a relief for the team grinding on Grand Theft Auto VI.
Rockstar North Issues Statement on Boiler Malfunction
“Early Monday morning, there was a malfunction in one of the heating boilers at Rockstar North,” a spokesperson told outlets.
“Many thanks to those that reached out with concern, and also to the police and fire crews who were on scene quickly to assess the situation – please know that everyone is well and our studio remains open and operational.”
The office skipped a full closure.
Does the Rockstar North Fire Delay GTA 6 Again?
Rockstar Games insists development rolls on uninterrupted.
The twice-delayed title hits November 19, 2026.
That date came via a November 6 update: “Grand Theft Auto VI will now release on Thursday, November 19, 2026. We are sorry for adding additional time... but these extra months will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect.”
What Led to GTA 6’s Latest Delay Announcement?
GTA 6 slipped from a May 2026 target.
Polish needs drove the shift, per the post.
Fans grumbled, but most accepted the timeline.
Rockstar Fired Employees Over Union Push — Details Emerge
Late October 2025 saw 30-plus dismissals at Rockstar North and other UK sites.
The company cited gross misconduct: workers shared GTA 6 details on a private Discord.
The IWGB Game Workers union called it retaliation for organizing.
Protests hit the Edinburgh office that November.
Union Sues Rockstar Over Firings — Latest Court Update
IWGB took the case to tribunal, seeking reinstatement and back pay.
A Glasgow judge denied interim relief last week for 29 sacked staff.
Full hearing looms later this year.
Rockstar stands by the moves: “We regret that we were put in a position where dismissals were necessary.”
Fans on X Turn Rockstar North Fire into GTA 6 Delay Jokes
X lit up fast.
Posts quipped about “GTA 6 boiler room DLC” or fresh postponements.
Polymarket odds for another delay hit 44% briefly before cooling.
One user: “Rockstar North? GTA 6 BOILER?! oh my god no way is this gonna delay it😩”
Memes flew, but most noted the all-clear.
Why This Feels Like a Cosmic Coincidence for Rockstar North
No link exists between the blast, delay, or firings.
Still, timing raises eyebrows after a rocky stretch.
Edinburgh HQ stays central to GTA work.
GTA 6 Holds Steady Despite Rockstar North Drama
The fire adds to headlines, but Rockstar North bounces back quick.
Legal fights with IWGB drag on.
November 19 arrives with Leonida and Vice City intact.
Fans eye polish over panic—another wait, but worth it.
Article Compiled and Edited by Derek Gibbs on January 19, 2026 for Clownfish TV D/REZZED.
Hat Tips
IGN: GTA 6 Developer Rockstar North ‘Open and Operational’ After Fire Crews Rush to Explosion (Jan 19, 2026)
BBC: Emergency services called after explosion at Rockstar North offices (Jan 19, 2026)
GamesIndustry.biz: Rockstar North “open and operational” following boiler malfunction (Jan 19, 2026)
Rock Paper Shotgun: Rockstar North “remains open and operational” (Jan 19, 2026)
Rockstar Newswire: Grand Theft Auto VI is Now Set to Launch November 19, 2026 (Nov 6, 2025)
BBC: *Sacked Grand Theft Auto workers refused pay relief
This is incredibly thorough coverage of such a wild coinsidence. The timing with the union stuff and the delay really does make you think, even tho its obviously just bad luck with the boiler. Working in big office buildings you realize how much critical infrastructure goes unnoticed untill something like this happens. Really glad nobody got hurt and kudos to the fire response time.