First Gaelic football game in 20 years launches 28 May
Key Points
- Buck Eejit Games launches Gaelic Football Laochra on 28 May 2026 across PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam.
- It is the first new Gaelic football video game in nearly 20 years, ending a gap stretching back to 2007.
- Aidan Forker, All-Ireland winning captain, is cover star and Michael D McAndrew provides commentary.
- Career Mode, tournaments, local multiplayer and a 34 county creation suite ship at launch; online multiplayer comes later.
- The Belfast studio is independent, with Tru Blu Games as publisher and Steam wishlisting open now.
Belfast studio Buck Eejit Games has announced the launch of Gaelic Football Laochra on 28 May 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam, the first new Gaelic football video game in nearly 20 years.
The Northern Irish studio says it has built the title around quick matches, tournaments and a Career Mode that lets players guide a chosen county across multiple seasons, developing talent and competing for championship titles.
The studio promises skill-based controls and AI movement designed to reflect the speed and tactical structure of the modern game, including the latest GAA ruleset changes.
An extensive creation suite covers custom players, kits and teams across 34 counties, and All-Ireland winning captain Aidan Forker fronts the cover. Michael D McAndrew will supply dynamic match commentary.
Local multiplayer ships from day one for two-player local play.
Online multiplayer sits on the studio’s roadmap but will not arrive at launch, so anyone hoping to play ranked games against strangers on day one will need to wait.
The Steam page is live now for wishlisting, with Tru Blu Games handling publishing across all three platforms.
A 20-year gap matters
Australian studio Transmission Games shipped the last Gaelic football console titles in 2005 and 2007, and although they sold reasonably in Ireland, they did not win fans over.
Nothing has filled the gap since, leaving one of the most popular amateur sports in Ireland and the Irish diaspora without a current video game.
For UK-based fans of the sport, particularly across Northern Ireland and the Irish communities in London, Manchester and Glasgow, Gaelic Football Laochra is the first realistic shot at a modern Gaelic football title in adult lifetimes.
That gap is also the commercial bet. Buck Eejit Games is an independent studio launching its debut title in the indie sports bracket, taking on a category that big publishers have ignored entirely.
The audience is niche by global standards but loyal, and the Steam community page already shows interest from players who have not had a Gaelic football game since the PlayStation 2 era.
Founder Peadar McMahon has framed the project as a statement of ambition for the local Northern Ireland games industry as much as a release for fans of the sport.
Review coverage will only land close to or after the 28 May date, so wishlisting on Steam and waiting for early reviews is a sensible approach for anyone unsure about a day one purchase.
The studio has confirmed character, kit and team customisation across 34 counties, giving fans of any specific county a route to play with authentic colours and squads.
