A Japanese laundry turned work into a game—and productivity jumped 18% after recruiting Fortnite developers.
At a small laundry service in Japan, managers turned ordinary chores into a game. They enlisted veteran Fortnite developers to design a new motivation system and installed screens at workstations that display a game linked to workers’ actual tasks. In this setup, each bundle of bed linens completed earns players virtual points. The result? Productivity rose by 18%, outperforming traditional incentives such as cash bonuses or company events. The experiment shows how turning routine labor into an engaging adventure can transform a workplace.
In This Article:
The experiment begins: bringing in gaming expertise to reimagine work.
A small Japanese laundry kicked off a bold experiment in motivation. They brought in Fortnite developers to help design the system. At the factory floor, screens display a game that is directly tied to the workers’ actual duties, linking in‑game progress to real performance.
How it works: points, villages, and a tropical island.
Every loaded bundle of bed linens earns virtual points for the player. Those points allow them to grow a virtual village on a scenic island. The faster a worker completes a task, the more resources their character earns, enabling buildings and farm development.
Results: the 18% lift and a comparison with traditional incentives.
The gamified approach increased productivity by 18%, surpassing cash bonuses or corporate events, which suggests that turning routine tasks into an engaging adventure can be more effective.
Takeaway: what this means for workplaces everywhere.
If a small laundry in Japan can achieve an 18% boost by gamifying work, other industries may explore similar strategies. Gamification can reframe everyday tasks as meaningful play, boosting motivation and efficiency. But it also raises questions about balance, sustainability, and the limits of play in the workplace.
