Tag: gamerfest

World premiere of GAA game ‘Gaelic Football 2025’ at Gamerfest

Ahead of its massively anticipated launch, the world premiere of Gaelic Football 2025 is happening at GamerFest, Ireland’s biggest gaming and esports festival, where gamers can have an exclusive first play! The epic weekend celebration of gaming entertainment will include the latest games, VR gaming, esports and gaming challenges, a host of special guests including top Twitch and YouTube creators, and a packed schedule of live stage content.

The first Gaelic Football video game in 18 years is bigger, better, and built for next-generation game consoles – and GamerFest is the place to play it before anybody else! Whether you’re chasing glory in county championships or building your legacy from grassroots to greatness, Gaelic Football 2025 delivers the passion, pride, and power of Gaelic football like never before.

In addition to this world premiere, the developers of Gaelic Football 2025, Buck Eejit Games, will also be onsite at GamerFest to chat with the audience and gather that all important gamer feedback ahead of the games official launch in summer 2025 across Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PC.

Red Bull’s mobile gaming event is returning to Ireland exclusively at GamerFest, featuring action-packed tournaments for both Player Unknown’s Battle Grounds on the Saturday and Clash Royale on the Sunday.

Tournament registration will take place on both days from 10am at the Red Bull Mobile Esports Open area at GamerFest. Attendees will commence the tournament in the Red Bull area from 1pm on both days, with the exciting Grand Finals taking place on the GamerFest Main Stage later in the day. The ultimate winner on both days will earn themselves their choice of a flagship smartphone or €1,000 in cash, plus the tournament winner’s trophy.

Also appearing at GamerFest will be Ireland’s top gaming content creators, including The Gara Show, who has amassed over 750,000 followers across his channels. Others such as Dylan Garbutt, Jordan Brown and Shields will be making live stage appearances and partaking in Q&As with gaming fans.

GamerFest has something for gamers of all levels, including families, casual and seasoned players alike. From retro games, cosplay and tournaments, to the Industry Zone where those interested in gaming professions can chat to the developers themselves and learn about the opportunities in the sector.

Stuart Dempsey, CEO of GamerFest, says: “This is a very exciting year for GamerFest, with audiences getting an exclusive first play of the hotly anticipated new GAA game. Our passion is to give Ireland’s gamers the biggest opportunities in the industry, whether that’s first plays of upcoming games or a chance to talk to developers about a future career in the games industry. We look forward to welcoming over 5,000 visitors to enjoy the weekend’s entertainment.”

GamerFest takes place in Dublin’s RDS on May 24th and 25th

84% of gamers have an interest in pursuing a third level degree course in game development and design in Ireland

84% of gamers say they would consider taking a course in game development and design at higher education level, according to a new survey from GamerFest, Ireland’s leading gaming and esports festival. In addition, 9 in 10 say they think it is possible to have a gaming career in Ireland.

Of the 84% who said they would be interested in third level courses, nearly 4 in 10 (38%) currently work in another industry, but would have pursued a career in the gaming industry if the option was available when they were entering third level education. A further 46% are currently considering taking a course in game development and design.

The majority (96%) of those surveyed also feel that the government should increase investment and expenditure in the Irish gaming industry beyond the current level. 9 in 10 people agree that gaming companies should be able to avail of tax relief measures to operate in Ireland. While Ireland’s tax credits for the sector are competitive internationally, those surveyed said that they would like to see robust credits introduced.

Interestingly, one third of those surveyed were unaware that Ireland is home to a developing major games industry – a number of major gaming companies have offices in Ireland including Riot Games, producers of the popular shooter game Valorant, and Electronic Arts, who create The Sims series and EAFC (formerly known as FIFA).

Gaming is a hobby for all ages with nearly 8 in 10 playing for fun

Gaming is a key hobby for many across a range of ages, with the biggest group of gamers surveyed stating they were between the ages 35-44 (35%). 77% of gamers are playing for fun, while one in ten surveyed say they engage in gaming for social purposes and to meet others with similar interests. A quarter of game players surveyed spend over 10 hours per week playing video games.

When it comes to spending money on gaming, 40% of gamers are outlaying more than €50 a month, with 1 in 10 spending over €100 per month on their hobby. More than half of those who spend money on gaming each month spend a quarter of their monthly budget on in-game purchases, such as Fortnite Skins or V-Bucks, to enhance their gameplay.

Gaming fans and content creators come together for GamerFest Dublin this May

Gamers and leading content creators in the gaming sector will come together this May 25th and 26th in the RDS, Dublin for the 7th year of GamerFest, which has welcomed over 25,000 visitors since its inception from across Ireland. GamerFest has firmly established itself as a diverse, community-led gaming event for everyone with a passion for gaming, from causal gamers and families right through to professional esports players and teams.

Nearly 80% (78%) of those surveyed believe live gaming events, like GamerFest, are extremely important in supporting the games industry.

The epic GamerFest weekend is a celebration of all things gaming and will feature the latest gaming releases, virtual reality experiences, esports, cosplay competitions and gaming challenges. There will also be a host of special guests including top Twitch and YouTube creators including Shauna Davitt, The Gara Show, Ryan Mar and Jack Igoe, with more special guest announcements to come. There will also be opportunities to learn about careers and third level courses in the gaming industry from leading companies and colleges.

In addition to last year’s super events across the Play, Compete, Connect and Discover zones, this May will see both Call of Duty Zone and Helldivers II playable at the festival. There’ll also be the exhilarating Formula One Fastest Lap competition in the Currys Sim Racing Zone, and for those looking to get their groove on, a Just Dance Challenge will take place across the weekend.

GamerFest CEO Stuart Dempsey says: “GamerFest continues to go from strength to strength, and we couldn’t be more excited to return to the RDS this May. There will be something for everyone, from casual gamers right through to budding esports stars.

“GamerFest is delighted to have a number of colleges and industry experts to chat about educational and career options in the sector at this year’s event. We see so many visitors to GamerFest seeking information on careers in the games industry so it’s a really exciting time for the games industry

“As showcased by our survey, the gaming industry in Ireland is a sector with enormous potential, and we are only scratching the surface in terms of the economic growth and job creation that it can bring to Ireland.

“It’s fantastic that the IDA is currently working to strengthen the financial support for the gaming industry through stronger tax credit initiatives, and we believe this can lead to a whole range of benefits for the wider Irish economy.”

GamerFest Winter returns with biggest content line-up ever to Dublin’s RDS on 21st and 22nd October

The biggest ever GamerFest, Ireland’s leading gaming and esports festival, will take place at Dublin’s RDS on 21st and 22nd of October. The epic GamerFest weekend is a celebration of all things gaming and will feature the latest gaming releases, virtual reality experiences, esports, gaming challenges and a host of special guests including top Twitch and YouTube creators.

Visitors to GamerFest can immerse themselves in a huge amount of gaming content across four Key Zones: PLAY, COMPETE, CONNECT and DISCOVER.

PLAY Zone

In the PLAY Zone, visitors to GamerFest can get hands on with the very latest upcoming games including EA FC24, Sonic Superstars, NBA 2K24 and Mortal Kombat 1. The latest VR racing experiences will also be playable with Official Network Partner eir, as well as Forza Motorsport on Xbox with Official Car Partner CUPRA and cutting edge immersive VR gaming titles will be on show with Official Drinks Partners Club Loaded and Energise. The incredibly popular Retro Area will also allow gamers take a trip down memory lane and play the old classics on retro consoles including Mega Drive, Super Nintendo and Atari.

COMPETE Zone

The COMPETE Zone at GamerFest is all about esports. Check out the Grand Finals on the Live Esports Stage as Ireland’s top esports talent battle it out across a selection of titles including VALORANT, Rocket League, EA FC24 and Rainbow 6 Siege. Visitors to GamerFest can also take part in various causal tournaments at the event including CS:GO, EA FC24 and Rocket League. Fans of racing can test their skills in the Curry’s Fastest Lap Challenge, competing in cutting edge sim racing rigs for prizes.

CONNECT Zone

A hugely important part of GamerFest is community, and the CONNECT Zone is the place to meet Ireland’s leading content creators. The Mooju Live Stage will also host a packed line-up of content for the whole weekend including gaming challenges, the Cosplay Challenge and content creator Q&As. Visitors to the event can also purchase the latest gaming equipment and merch from companies including Trust Gaming and GG Machines.

DISCOVER Zone

For everyone that wants to learn more about gaming, the DISCOVER Zone highlights the incredible education and career opportunities that the games industry offers, with leading companies and colleges including 2K Games, Black Shamrock Studios and Pulse College in attendance. Visitors can also check out the latest games from Ireland’s indie game developers and give their valuable thoughts and feedback. Budding PC gaming enthusiasts can also take part in workshops provided at the event showing How to Build a Gaming PC with thanks to GG Machines.

Founded six years ago, GamerFest has firmly established itself as a diverse, community-led gaming event for everyone with a passion for gaming, with over 25,000 visitors to date. The event welcomes a broad range of gamers including causal gamers and families right through to professional esports players and teams.

The upcoming GamerFest in October will be the organisation’s biggest festival yet, with floor space increasing by 50% to 4,500m2, including a new dedicated hall for the GamerFest COMPETE Zone.

GamerFest CEO Stuart Dempsey says: “We’re incredibly excited to see GamerFest growing with each event and this October will be our biggest and best yet. Whether you are a seasoned gamer, or just curious to find out more about the event, GamerFest has more gaming experiences than ever for all to enjoy.”

GamerFest takes place at The RDS, Dublin this 21st and 22nd of October with

tickets on sale now at GamerFest.ie.

eir Extends Partnership With GamerFest, Ireland’s Leading Gaming Festival as Ookla Confirms eir Ireland’s Lowest Latency Broadband Provide

eir, Ireland’s largest telecommunications provider, today announces an extension of the partnership with GamerFest, Ireland’s biggest gaming and esports festival as Official Network Partner. The event, established in 2017, will hold two events in Dublin in 2023, on May 27th & 28th and October 21st & 22nd, enabling more gamers from across Ireland to experience the future of gaming in the RDS, Dublin. The extension of the partnership comes as Ookla® confirms eir as the fixed network with the best latency, based on analysis of Speedtest Intelligence data for fixed multi-server latency in Ireland, Q1 2023.

eir’s low latency means gamers’ actions are registered faster, giving them more time to react and make strategic decisions. Having delivered its best latency Gigabit Broadband network, capable of speeds of up to 10GB per second, to a record breaking one million homes and businesses across Ireland, eir is now the best network for gaming in Ireland.

Susan Brady, Managing Director of eir Consumer and Small Business “We’re delighted to partner with GamerFest again this year and look forward to showcasing the best possible gaming experience that the eir network enables at the events in the RDS.  The confirmation from Ookla on the low latency of the eir network this week allows the gamers of Ireland access to a competitive advantage when gaming. Low latency is critical for gaming and with the latest technology and infrastructure, eir’s network also offers lightning-fast download and upload speeds, ensuring that gamers can play their favourite games without any lag or interruption also. We’re proud to deliver that to one million premises across Ireland, making eir undoubtedly the best network for gamers in Ireland.”

Stuart Dempsey, GamerFest’s CEO: “The whole GamerFest team are proud to partner with eir. We’ve been blown away to see eir build out their Gigabit Fibre network to more than one million homes and businesses, which is huge news for our gaming community across Ireland as Gigabit Fibre speeds combined with the lowest latency provides an unmatched gaming experience.

Mobile gaming is also steadily increasing in popularity due to the expansion of 4G and 5G mobile technology. With eir’s 5G network, gamers can rest assured that they will always have the best possible gaming experience. We’re incredibly excited to welcome visitors back to GamerFest 2023 in May and October to experience all the amazing gaming content and technology across the weekend and to partner with eir again as our Official Network Partner.”

Over the last four years, eir has invested more than €1 billion in building world class connectivity infrastructure, enabling the build of Ireland’s largest Gigabit Fibre Network and Ireland’s best available 5G mobile network. eir has committed to investing a further €1 billion over four years, through to 2026 and is rolling out its Gigabit Broadband network to 1.9 million front doors, or 84% of homes and businesses, by the end of 2026.

GamerFest, Ireland’s biggest gaming and esports festival, returns to the RDS, Dublin this May 27th and 28th

GamerFest, Ireland’s biggest gaming and esports festival is returning to the RDS, Dublin this May 27th and 28th after the hugely successful event last year which saw 5,000+ gamers gather in person for the first time since covid.

The epic GamerFest weekend will be a celebration of all things gaming and will feature the latest gaming releases, VR gaming, esports, gaming challenges and a host of special guests including top Twitch and YouTube creators and a variety of exciting live stage content. Among those confirmed to attend are Ryan Mar, Mr Gibbon, Antitinkerbell and The Gara Show, with more exciting special guest announcements coming soon. Meanwhile, Club Loaded Energy and Energise Energy have been confirmed as Official Drinks Partners with multiple giveaways and competitions planned at the event.

This year, GamerFest has teamed up with Nativz Collegiate to launch their first ever Collegiate Challenge which will see Ireland’s top colleges face off on the GamerFest Esports Stage. Teams from University College Dublin and Technological University Dublin will go head to head on stage in both Valorant and Rocket League matches.

GamerFest is also running online open tournaments in Valorant and FIFA for competitive gamers. The finalists of these online tournaments will then go forward to compete on the Esports Stage in May in front of a live audience.

GamerFest has also confirmed a ground-breaking partnership with Williams Esports. Five cutting edge Williams Esports sim racing rigs will be available at GamerFest so fans can put their racing skills to the test. In addition to a Fastest Lap Challenge taking place across the weekend, Williams Esports Irish driver Daire McCormack will also be in attendance, meeting the crowd and chatting about his sim racing career to date.

Zero Latency VR will be returning to GamerFest with the most incredibly immersive VR gaming experience, bringing a unique combination of technology and pure imagination that transports players into a world of free-roam gaming. Organisers have also revealed a partnership with Sega that will see Sega Frontiers featured at the event along with a host of other titles.

Visitors both young and old can take a walk down memory lane in the popular Retro Zone which hosts a range of old school games and consoles including Mega Drive and Atari, along with a host of classic retro arcade machines.

The newly launched Industry Zone will also provide visitors a chance to explore the incredible education and career opportunities within gaming. Pulse College and Black Shamrock Studio will be in attendance to provide advice and guidance for aspiring professionals.

Since its establishment in 2017, GamerFest has established itself as a diverse, community-led gaming event for everyone with a passion for gaming, whether that be casual gaming with friends or those who engage in competitive esports tournaments, game development and design or content creation.

GamerFest CEO Stuart Dempsey says:

“We can’t wait to see everyone at GamerFest Summer for an absolutely packed weekend of gaming! Whether you’re a dedicated esports player, or a young casual gamer, we have something for everyone at the event.”

GamerFest takes place at The RDS, Dublin this May 27th and 28th

with tickets on sale now at GamerFest.ie.

GamerFest Dublin, Ireland’s biggest gaming and esports festival, has announced that Williams Esports will be attending its summer event at the RDS this May 27th & 28th

GamerFest is an epic weekend celebration of gaming that includes the latest games, VR tech, esports and career exploration, as well as a host of special guests including top Twitch and YouTube creators. With 5,000 visitors in attendance there is something for every gamer.

As part of the partnership, Williams Esports will be bringing five cutting edge Williams Esports sim racing rigs for the GamerFest crowd to test their racing skills. In addition to a Fastest Lap Challenge taking place across the weekend, Williams Esports Irish driver Daire McCormack will also be in attendance, meeting the crowd and chatting about his sim racing career to date.

Speaking at the announcement, GamerFest CEO Stuart Dempsey believes the Williams Esports team will be a hugely popular addition to the event: “We are incredibly excited to welcome Williams Esports to GamerFest this May. This is the first time that a global sim racing team has visited Ireland so there’s going to be a massive buzz around the Williams Esports area at the event.”

Director of Esports at Williams Racing, Steven English, is looking forward to meeting the Irish gaming community: “We’re excited about this opportunity to come over to Ireland and engage with the passionate sim racing and gaming community that we know is thriving here. We strive to give as many people as possible the chance to try an elite sim racing rig and help to grow their enthusiasm for the sport we love.

We hope to add a real highlight to the GamerFest event, and maybe we’ll even identify some top Irish sim racing prospects in the process!”

Connections Are Top Priority For Gamers, eir, Official Broadband Partner of GamerFest 2022, Takes A Look at Gamer Priorities

As Official Broadband Partner of GamerFest 2022, eir, Ireland’s leading telecommunications provider, commissioned research with gamers in Ireland to look at how, when, where and with whom they are connecting with while gaming. To mark the partnership with Ireland’s largest gaming event taking place in the RDS, Dublin on October 22nd and 23rd, eir was keen to understand the role of connection with the gaming community in Ireland.

In terms of the top priority, strong and reliable connection is key with 81% of participants stating that having a high-speed broadband connection was the most important factor a seamless and uninterrupted online gaming experience.

Strong network connections not only facilitate a seamless gaming experience but also more social connections with 40% making friends through online gaming community.

Connectivity is playing an increasingly important role in gaming with online games requiring a reliable, lag-free, low-latency connection with research revealing that 58% play most of their online games through their mobile phones and tablets, meaning gamers can rely on eir’s 5G and Fibre to the Home networks for split second accuracy while gaming online and the best overall gaming experience.

eir’s 5G network is available to more than 70% of the population of Ireland and continues to expand, with ultrafast data speeds in 485 towns and cities across Ireland. Fibre to the Home is a future-proofed network capable of delivering speeds of 2Gbps straight to more than 900,000 homes and businesses, further extending the availability of high-speed broadband connections across Ireland.

Speaking at the launch of the partnership Susan Brady, eir’s Managing Director of Consumer and Small Business commented: “At eir, we are committed to providing our customers with access to world leading technologies and the highest-quality connectivity. We are delighted to partner with GamerFest 2022 and look forward to meeting all the attendees at the event later this month and showcasing the latest innovation and technology available to our customers to deliver the best gaming experience.”

Stuart Dempsey, GamerFest’s CEO commented: “We’re incredibly excited to welcome visitors back to GamerFest 2022 to experience all the amazing gaming content and technology across the weekend through the support of our exclusive broadband partners, eir. Strong connections are at the heart of our community and we can’t wait for them all to meet again in person at GamerFest.”

Having already welcomed thousands of visitors to its events across Ireland, GamerFest will see 5,000 gamers descend on the RDS venue for a packed weekend of gaming and entertainment featuring the latest games, esports, VR gaming, special guests, and live stage shows. Visitors to the event can also expect a wide array of gaming entertainment including the latest blockbuster titles, VR gaming and technology, expo hall and marketplace to grab the latest gaming equipment and gear.

GamerFest, Ireland’s biggest gaming and esports festival, returns to Dublin this October

GamerFest, Ireland’s biggest gaming and esports festival, is returning to the RDS, Dublin this October 22nd & 23rd. The epic weekend celebration of gaming entertainment will include the latest games, VR gaming, esports and gaming challenges, a host of special guests including top Twitch and YouTube creators, and a variety of live stage content.

Organisers have also announced an exciting new partnership with Lucozade, the 2022 Title Sponsor of GamerFest, who will be showing up big at the event and supporting a wide range of gaming activations across the entire weekend.

Since its establishment in 2017 GamerFest has established itself as a diverse, community-led gaming event for everyone with a passion for gaming, whether that be casual gaming with friends or those who engage in competitive esports tournaments, game development and design or content creation.

Over the last number of years GamerFest has become a hub for content creator talent in Ireland, with a host of YouTube and Twitch special guests set to attend October’s event. Content creators confirmed to date include Antitinkerbell, Jamie Jay Car, The Gara Show, Audrey and event hosts All Cast Irish Gamers with more special guest announcements coming soon.

Fans of esports will witness a packed line-up of competitive action on the GamerFest Main Stage including an Official Partnership with Ubisoft and the launch of the GamerFest Rainbow Six Siege Ireland Open. This tournament offers an incredible opportunity for Irish teams to qualify for the UK Ireland Nationals (UKIN) and ultimately earn a professional spot in the Rainbow Six Northern Premier League.

Organisers have also confirmed a ground-breaking partnership with Legion Collegiate Esports, Ireland’s dedicated esports series for third-level students in Ireland, which will see some of the best student esports talent in the country go head to head across a range of titles including Rocket League, Apex Legends and FIFA.

Visitors to the event will have the opportunity to get hands on with HADO, the very latest in Augmented Reality (AR) gaming, where players do battle with virtual energy balls and shields on a real life court. HADO will also launch the first ever Irish HADO Championship at GamerFest which will see the winning team represent Ireland at the upcoming HADO European Championships in France.

The wide array of gaming entertainment on offer at GamerFest includes:

  • The latest titles, VR gaming and technology

  • A showcase of the best in Irish gaming content creator talent with a new ‘Creator Zone’ offering visitors the chance to meet their favourite Twitch and YouTube creators

  • An expo hall and market place to get the latest gaming equipment and gear

  • A host of esports tournaments featuring on the GamerFest Main Stage

  • A range of special guest appearances and Meet + Greet opportunities

GamerFest CEO Stuart Dempsey says:

“Like our visitors, the team behind GamerFest are gamers. Ever since our first event five years ago, we’ve kept an absolute focus on one thing – the gaming community. Community guides us in everything we do, ensuring we have the best games, content, special guests and entertainment possible at all our events.”

 “Just like every other live event, it’s been incredibly tough not seeing our community since 2020 throughout the Covid pandemic. So, we’re incredibly excited to see the anticipation for the return of GamerFest this year. It will be wonderful to see people physically come together and celebrate all things gaming, bringing to life all the incredible friendships and relationships that have developed online over the last number of years.”

GamerFest takes place at The RDS, Dublin this October 22nd and 23rd with tickets on sale now at GamerFest.ie.

Ireland’s biggest gaming and esports festival “GamerFest” returns to the RDS in October

Originally established in 2017, GamerFest is a diverse and inclusive celebration of all things gaming and esports that has been developed with a community-first approach, welcoming visitors from across Ireland, the UK and Europe. 

Central to the event has been the GamerFest Live Stage which sees a huge variety of gaming content across the weekend including esports tournaments, special guest appearances and gaming challenges.

Visitors to the event can also expect a wide array of gaming entertainment including the latest titles, VR gaming and technology, expo hall and market place to grab the latest gaming equipment and gear. Esports tournaments will continue to be a huge part of GamerFest with a full list of tournaments, schedules and prize pools to be announced over the summer.

The festival is also planning to showcase the best in Irish gaming content creator talent with the launch of a new Creator Zone where visitors will get the chance to meet their favourite Twitch and YouTube creators at the event. Further announcements regarding special guests will be made by the organisers over the coming weeks.

Speaking at the announcement of the event, GamerFest CEO Stuart Dempsey was excited to see the return to live events for the Irish gaming community. “It’s obviously been a really tough couple of years for everyone involved with live events and we certainly haven’t been immune. But to see the excitement and anticipation amongst our community for the return of GamerFest is just incredible. We can’t wait to see everyone again at the RDS this October.”

GamerFest takes place at The RDS, Dublin this October 22nd and 23rd with tickets on sale now at GamerFest.ie.