Frans Mäyrä, Professor of Information Studies and Interactive Media, with specialization in digital culture and game studies in the Tampere University, Finland.

In just a few decades, games implemented with digital devices have revolutionized how games look, what can be done within them, and what kinds of games and game genres exist, in general. Likewise, the communities and entire subcultures who have grown around games, or inhabit the shared virtual game worlds, have significantly transformed the cultural and societal status of games and play.

In this talk, Professor Frans Mäyrä explores these developmental trajectories and invites reflective speculation on the future directions of games, play, game cultures, and their societal roles, as evolving technologies, socio-cultural contexts, and global conditions continue to shape them.