Update: 15:40, 19/1: A Rockstar representative has confirmed that its Edinburgh studio is “open and operational” after the fire brigade was called to its offices this morning.

“Early Monday morning, there was a malfunction in one of the heating boilers at Rockstar North,” the spokesperson told GamesIndustry.biz.

“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.”

Original story: The fire brigade was called to the offices of Rockstar North after a reported explosion early this morning (Monday, January 19).

The Herald reports that seven Scottish Fire and Rescue Service vehicles were dispatched to the Grand Theft Auto maker’s Edinburgh headquarters on Holyrood Road after an alarm was set off just after 5am.

Fire crews left after three hours after ensuring that the Rockstar North offices were safe; firefighters secured “structure damage” that the building had sustained. There were no casualties.

An exact cause for the fire is yet to be revealed, but reports point to it being the result of an “explosion in a boiler room”.

“We were alerted at 5.02am on Monday, 19 January to attend an incident on Holyrood Road, Edinburgh,” a spokesperson for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said.

“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 9.21am.”

GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Rockstar parent company Take-Two for any additional information.

Rockstar North is, of course, the developer of the Grand Theft Auto series. The upcoming sixth numbered entry in the blockbuster open-world crime franchise is set to launch in November 2026 having been delayed twice.

The company has faced criticism recently for firing over 30 members of staff; the IWGB Game Workers has claimed that this is an act of union-busting and has taken legal action against the games giant. Last week, a judge at Glasgow Employment Tribunal rejected the union’s request for interim relief.