50% Reduction in Game Operation Costs: How AI is Changing Common Practices on the Front Lines

“50% Reduction” Is Not a Pipe Dream

The news that game operation company Mynet has set a goal of reducing operational costs by 50% through AI has shocked many executives. Around the same time, Open and JRC Engineering announced a collaboration on AI solutions for manufacturing sites. AI is beginning to change the very “shape of work” itself.

I personally operate 32 AI agents within my own company, achieving a reduction of 1,550 work hours annually. As a business owner, I can say this: the “50% reduction” is not limited to any specific industry.

What the Game Industry’s AI Adoption Reveals

Breakdown of Operational Costs and AI’s Applicable Areas

The cost structure of game operations shares many similarities with other industries: customer support, data analysis, content updates, and bug fixes. All of these are rule-based tasks.

Mynet’s announcement shows that applying AI to these tasks can significantly reduce labor costs. The key point isn’t “reduction” but “reallocation.” The resources saved can be redirected toward more creative work.

Common Ground with Manufacturing

The collaboration between Open and JRC Engineering aims to automate manufacturing sites. Quality inspection, process management, and inventory optimization—these tasks are also seeing increased AI automation.

Game operations and manufacturing sites may seem like different industries, but the nature of the tasks AI is applied to is the same: pattern recognition, rule-based decision-making, and data-driven predictions. These are areas where AI excels.

Real-World Costs and ROI of AI Implementation

Initial Investment and Running Costs

The biggest barrier to AI adoption is a lack of cost awareness. Based on my own track record, here are the concrete numbers.

At my company, we operate 32 AI agents for about $140 per month. This includes Claude Code usage fees, ChatGPT subscriptions, and VPS rental costs. The annual cost is roughly $1,700.

In return, we’ve saved 1,550 work hours annually. Assuming an hourly rate of $33, that’s about $51,000 in value created per year. The ROI is approximately 3,000%.

The Barrier to Entry Is Lower Than You Think

Many executives think, “In-house development is impossible.” However, with the advancement of generative AI, the development hurdle has dropped dramatically.

Using code-generating AI, even those without programming experience can create simple automation tools. One of my clients had a back-office employee develop their own AI tool, saving 20 hours of work per month.

Learning from Pacific Ferry: A Successful Chatbot Implementation Pattern

Handling 10,000 Monthly Inquiries with Over 95% Response Rate

Pacific Ferry introduced the chatbot “Tebot” and now handles over 10,000 monthly inquiries with a stable response rate of over 95%.

This case shows that “inquiry handling” is the ideal first step for AI adoption. It’s a rule-based task, easy to apply AI to, and the results are clearly measurable.

The Key to Implementation: A Phased Approach

Pacific Ferry’s success came from not trying to automate everything at once. They started with frequently asked questions and gradually expanded the scope. They maintained customer satisfaction while increasing the response rate.

This approach can be applied to any industry. Start with one task, implement AI, confirm the results, and then expand. This minimizes risk.

Redefining the “Shape of Work” in the AI Era

Breaking Free from Over-Reliance on Individuals

Many companies struggle with work that is overly dependent on specific individuals. When that employee leaves, operations stall.

AI solves this problem. By teaching AI the work processes, anyone can produce the same quality output. This allows companies to break free from individual dependency and increase organizational resilience.

Eliminating Data Silos

Different departments using different systems that don’t share data—this is the problem of “data silos.”

AI can analyze data across different systems. Through API integration, data can be centralized and used for management decisions. I’ve also integrated Google, GitHub, Slack, and social media APIs in my own company to unify data flow.

Three Actions Executives Should Take Right Now

First: Identify Tasks Ready for AI

List your company’s tasks and identify which ones can be automated with AI. Prioritize rule-based tasks, tasks with abundant data, and tasks where results are easy to measure.

Specific examples include inquiry handling, data entry, report generation, inventory management, and quality inspection.

Second: Start Small and Validate Results

Large-scale implementation from the start is risky. Begin by introducing AI to one task and measure the results. As the Pacific Ferry case shows, a phased approach is key to success.

Costs can start as low as $70 per month. I recommend starting with subscriptions for chatbots or code-generating AI.

Third: Boost AI Literacy Within Your Company

The success of AI adoption depends on employee understanding and cooperation. Conduct training to improve AI literacy and create an environment where employees can use AI on their own.

In my experience, once employees become proficient with AI, they generate new ideas for process improvements. Bottom-up AI adoption leads to overall productivity gains for the organization.

Conclusion: AI Moves from a “Cost-Cutting Tool” to the Core of “Business Strategy”

Mynet’s 50% reduction target is just a glimpse of AI’s potential. From manufacturing sites to customer support and data analysis, AI is being adopted across all types of work.

What executives need is a perspective that sees AI not just as a “cost-cutting tool” but as the core of “business strategy.” By leveraging AI, you can maintain work quality while reducing costs and redirecting freed-up resources to creative tasks.

Implementation costs can start at just a few tens of thousands of yen per month. Take that first step and try applying AI to your own company’s tasks. An era has arrived where that single step can make or break your competitive edge.