Tech Talk

A Generation of Gamers is Powering Industry 4.0

People & Culture

Todd Deaville, Vice President, Advanced Manufacturing Innovation
September 17, 2025
3-min read

It’s a shift from virtual worlds to smart factories. A new generation of workers — raised in the pixelated realms of Minecraft and the immersive environments of Unreal Engine — is entering the workforce with vital problem-solving skills shaped by gaming.

As manufacturers adopt Industry 4.0 principles like smart automation, data exchange and cyber-physical systems, these digitally native employees are bridging the gap between virtual creativity and real-world problem-solving, helping reshape factories into leaner, more adaptive operations.

Industry 4.0 is defined by interconnected systems that communicate, analyze and make decisions with minimal human input. At its core are technologies like AI, digital twins, IoT (Internet of Things) and collaborative robots, or “cobots.” But the success of this transformation relies as much on people as it does on tech. That’s where the “Minecraft generation” enters the picture.

Games like Minecraft and platforms like Unreal Engine are more than entertainment. They’re training grounds for logic, design thinking and systems problem-solving. In Minecraft, players build intricate mechanisms using Redstone circuits that mirror real-world engineering principles. Unreal Engine introduces users to 3D modeling, coding, physics and interaction design.

Portrait of Todd Deaville, Vice President, Advanced Manufacturing Innovation, Corporate R&D

Many in this generation grew up playing these “games” since early childhood, developing spatial reasoning, systems thinking and a DIY mindset along the way. Today, those same skills are proving invaluable on digitized shop floors — where young workers who once built complex virtual worlds are now designing digital twins of production lines, simulating workflows and optimizing operations in real time.

Digital twins are a perfect example. They rely on the ability to model complex systems virtually before physical deployment. The instant feedback loop from tweaking virtual environments — common in gaming — mirrors how digital twins function in modern manufacturing.

These workers are also quick to adopt and adapt digital tools. Raised on multiplayer games that require coordination and problem-solving, they’re often more collaborative and comfortable in hybrid teams. It’s the world they know — and the world they thrive in.

Their game-learned mindset of experimentation — try, fail fast, iterate — aligns with agile manufacturing principles. Familiarity with game engines also enables faster prototyping and visualization, reducing the time from concept to production.

More companies, including Magna, are taking note and actively integrating game-based learning into their operations. Some are incorporating game-based learning into employee training or using platforms like Unity and Unreal to simulate manufacturing scenarios. Others are recruiting directly from game design and modding communities, recognizing their hands-on experience with complex digital systems.

To fully unlock this potential, though, companies must create environments that support creativity and digital learning. Rigid hierarchies and traditional processes can stifle the innovation these workers bring. Businesses must embrace flexible, digitally inclusive cultures that treat game-honed skills as serious assets — not novelties.

So, to all the parents who worried their kids spent too much time on Minecraft — those hours may be fueling the next generation of smarter, more human-centered factories. Even our most advanced systems still depend on human creativity and collaboration.

For this new generation, play isn’t just fun — it’s a foundation for the future.