The 24th IFIP International Conference on Entertainment Computing (ICEC) took place in Tokyo from 27-30 August 2025 under the theme Experience Entertainment. Preceded by the IPSJ Entertainment Computing Symposium, the week became a landmark moment for entertainment-computing research and practice in Japan.
This year’s program drew 131 delegates from 23 countries and featured six workshops, 65 oral presentations across ENTCOM Journal, full papers and work-in-progress tracks, plus 15 demonstrations in the Interactive Entertainment Showcase.
A highlight was the trio of keynote speakers who embodied the theme:
- Shuji Utsumi, President and COO of SEGA Corporation, shared candid insights into how SEGA continues to pioneer interactive fun
- Professor Wei-Ta Chu (National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan) demonstrated how advanced computer vision is transforming manga analysis and live sports
- Professor Homei Miyashita (Meiji University, Japan), 2023 Ig Nobel Prize winner, showcased his groundbreaking work on digitalising taste, offering a glimpse of the future of food as entertainment.
The hands-on nature of the conference stood out, with attendees encouraged to experience prototypes directly – from controllers and motion sensors to digitised flavours – sparking lively, grounded discussions.
As the entertainment-computing community reflects on what makes experiences truly engaging in an era of generative AI, ICEC 2025 reinforced the field’s role in shaping human-centred innovation.
Sincere thanks to Ryosuke Yamanishi, who was the main chair and also reported on the event. The 25th IFIP ICEC Conference will be hosted in Paris, France, from 6-9 October 2026.