The invention presents methods, systems and computer program products for optimizing computer system resource utilization during in-game resource farming. The invention comprises (i) detecting a gameplay event that triggers switching from a resource farming mode to a non-resource farming mode, or for switching from a non-resource farming mode to a resource farming mode, in connection with a runtime instance of a gaining application software, (ii) identifying a guest operating system within which the runtime instance of the gaming application software is being executed, (iii) selecting a mode switching protocol implementable within the identified guest operating system, and (iv) switching the runtime instance of the gaming application software from a resource farming mode to a non-resource farming mode, or from a non-resource farming mode to a resource farming mode, by implementing the selected mode switching protocol.