January 20, 2026
Rockstar Games Confirms GTA 6 Development Unaffected After Fire at Edinburgh Office
Grand Theft Auto 6 continues to dominate gaming conversations, and this week, attention briefly shifted to Rockstar Games’ Edinburgh headquarters after reports of a small fire surfaced. With anticipation already at an all-time high, the studio quickly addressed concerns and reassured fans worldwide.
🔥 Rockstar North Confirms Everyone Is Safe
Rockstar Games confirmed that a minor fire occurred at its Edinburgh office, also known as Rockstar North, during the early hours of the morning. The incident was caused by a malfunction in a boiler room, prompting emergency services to respond shortly after 5 AM GMT.
Key takeaways from the official response include:
- No employees were injured during the incident
- Emergency crews secured the building quickly
- The studio remained open and fully operational
Rockstar expressed appreciation to emergency responders and those who reached out with concern, emphasizing that staff safety was never compromised.
🏢 Development of GTA 6 Remains Unaffected
Despite the disruption, Rockstar made it clear that the fire will not impact the development timeline for Grand Theft Auto 6. The building remained structurally intact, and employees continued their workday as usual once authorities cleared the scene.
Rockstar North plays a central role in developing new GTA titles, making this reassurance especially important for fans who have been waiting over a decade for the next installment.
🕵️♂️ A Turbulent Period for Rockstar Games
The fire comes during a challenging period for Rockstar. Toward the end of 2025, the studio reportedly dismissed multiple employees following internal investigations related to leaked confidential information. These actions followed the massive 2022 breach that resulted in early GTA 6 footage appearing online.
While these events are unrelated to the fire, they highlight the intense pressure surrounding one of the most anticipated games in history.
❤️ A Special Moment for a GTA Fan
In more uplifting news, Rockstar’s parent company reportedly approved a special internal playtest for a terminally ill fan. The decision came after a developer reached out on behalf of a family member who may not live to see GTA 6’s release.
The situation reportedly received a positive response from leadership, offering a rare and heartfelt glimpse inside the studio during a difficult development cycle.
⏳ GTA 6 Release Timeline Still in Focus
Grand Theft Auto 6 has already seen multiple delays since its reveal in December 2023. Originally planned for Fall 2025, the release date was later moved to May 2026, then pushed again.
As of now, GTA 6 is scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Given Rockstar’s reputation for perfection, some fans continue to speculate about a possible additional delay, though no further changes have been confirmed.
🧠 Final Thoughts
While the fire at Rockstar’s Edinburgh office raised concerns, the studio’s swift response and transparency helped put fans at ease. With development continuing uninterrupted and anticipation building, Grand Theft Auto 6 remains firmly on track to be one of the biggest gaming releases of all time.