By Aaron McGurk

ALMOST 20 years after the last major Gaelic football video game release, a developer from Lurgan is preparing to bring the sport back to consoles.

Peadar McMahon, director of Buck Eejit Games, founded the studio in 2022 with the aim of creating Gaelic Football Laochra, a modern take on Gaelic football gaming inspired by the titles he grew up playing during his university years.

McMahon said his ambition to create the game dates back to the mid-2000s, when he spent countless hours playing the original Gaelic Games series.

“The previous Gaelic football games came out in the middle of my university days,” he said.

“I played them to death, but I always felt I could do something better.

“I said back then that one day I was going to make my own version, and nearly 20 years later we’re close to finally achieving that.”

The Buck Eejit Games team drew inspiration from several well-known sports franchises, including Gaelic Games, FIFA and, most notably for McMahon, Pro Evolution Soccer.

McMahon said playing Pro Evolution Soccer 6 alongside Gaelic Games highlighted areas where the older Gaelic football titles could be improved, particularly in gameplay fluidity and shooting mechanics.

CROKER…An in-game screenshot of Croke Park

“It wasn’t the best game in the world, but it was what we had to represent our sport,” he said.

“I always believed it could be done better. It took years to get off the ground, but I never gave up on it.”

In Gaelic Football Laochra, shooting mechanics have been redesigned to feel more natural and realistic. Success in front of goal depends on factors such as player accuracy, body positioning, stamina and defensive pressure from opponents.

The game also introduces expanded player roles and more varied approaches to set pieces and free kicks.

“All the movement systems are influenced by other sports titles,” McMahon explained.

“Much to the disappointment of some of the team, who grew up on FIFA, the default controls are much closer to the old Pro Evo style.”

However, he added that players will be able to choose from multiple control schemes.

The game has been developed using the Unity Engine, while Blender software was used to create the 3D player models. The team also utilised motion-capture technology to produce realistic animations.

Despite the excitement surrounding the project, development has not been without challenges. McMahon admitted the team underestimated the complexities of releasing a game on consoles, while the introduction of new GAA rules also forced adjustments that contributed to delaying the release until 2026.

Balancing the pacing of matches was another major obstacle, particularly because many players are expected to use shortened match times.

Like other sports titles, the game had to be carefully tuned to ensure shorter halves still felt realistic and engaging.

MECHANICS…A Kerry footballer attempts a free-kick in Gaelic Football Laochra

The project has been primarily funded by Tru Blu Entertainment, a Sydney-based publisher known for niche sports titles covering AFL, rugby, cricket, surfing and racing.

Players will be able to take part in quick matches, tournaments, career mode and local multiplayer, while also customising teams, tactics and set-piece roles.

The game includes the new GAA rules introduced in 2025 and features all 34 county teams.

While official player licensing has not been secured, users will have full editing freedom, including the ability to customise player names, appearances and teams. Players can also create their own clubs and organise custom leagues.

Match lengths default to six-minute halves but can be extended to the full 35 minutes.

McMahon believes career mode will become the standout feature, allowing players to manage squads across multiple seasons, promote and demote players, and guide their county through every available competition.

Additional features, including online multiplayer, are currently in development, though McMahon acknowledged these are significant technical undertakings. Commentary, meanwhile, will be provided by Michael D. McAndrew, Head of Sport at Midwest Radio.

Although Buck Eejit Games already has ideas for a sequel, McMahon said it is unlikely the franchise will become an annual sports release.

He also expressed hopes of developing a hurling game in the future, alongside other projects reflecting the interests of the studio.

Gaelic Football Laochra will be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series SX and Steam on May 28, with pricing yet to be confirmed.