Gaelic Football is about to make a return to screen in a gaming context for the first time in 20 years.

Those with a long memory will recall those early attempts, derived from an Aussie Rules ‘engine’ by gaming company Transmission Games as being a little less than what might have been hoped for and they failed to last long.

Now though, Armagh based Buck Eejit Games hope to erase that memory.

Gaelic Football 2025 will make its world premiere at GamerFest in Dublin this weekend,

It is designed for next-generation consoles including the Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC, and will be exclusively showcased at the RDS ahead of a summer launch.

“Our team has worked incredibly hard to capture the spirit of the sport – from the fast-paced action on the pitch to the community feel that defines Gaelic games,” said Technical Director Peadar McMahon quoted in the Irish News earlier this year.

“This game is a love letter to Gaelic football fans, and we’re so excited for them to experience it in a way that hasn’t been possible until now.”

“We look forward to getting the game into people’s hands early next year. It’s been a long journey, and we’re excited to bring Gaelic football to both dedicated fans and a new generation of players.”

“This is a very exciting year for GamerFest,” added Stuart Dempsey, CEO of the event.

“Our passion is to give Ireland’s gamers the biggest opportunities in the industry, and giving audiences an exclusive first play of the hotly anticipated new GAA game is part of that.”

Developers from Buck Eejit Games will be on-site to speak with fans, answer questions, and gather gameplay feedback ahead of the launch.

Alongside the GAA game’s debut, Gamerfest features a packed schedule of entertainment, including VR gaming, esports challenges, and appearances from top content creators like The Gara Show, Dylan Garbutt, and Jordan Brown.

Red Bull’s Mobile Esports Open also returns with tournaments in PUBG Mobile and Clash Royale, with daily grand finals and prizes of up to €1,000 or a flagship smartphone.

GamerFest runs throughout the weekend at the RDS.

 

 

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SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE

It will be interesting to see the game in action and hopefully to find it better than in previous incarnations.  A good way to spread the word of Gaelic Games if it is and a potential revenue source for the Associations and the players, hoping of course that all the licenses are in place and a Women’s game is in the pipeline as well.

WHAT’S UP NEXT?

We will be covering more in the esports space as the summer progresses, including a series of Podcast interviews with those on the business side of it.

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