diff --git a/ariadne/services/game_mode.py b/ariadne/services/game_mode.py
index fa43f1c..f94be3e 100644
--- a/ariadne/services/game_mode.py
+++ b/ariadne/services/game_mode.py
@@ -81,7 +81,8 @@ class GameModeService:
         workloads: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
         for workload in self._workloads():
             desired, current = self._replicas(workload)
-            set_game_mode_managed_replicas(workload.namespace, workload.name, desired)
+            effective = desired if desired is not None else current
+            set_game_mode_managed_replicas(workload.namespace, workload.name, effective)
             workloads.append(
                 {
                     "kind": workload.kind,
@@ -89,11 +90,12 @@ class GameModeService:
                     "name": workload.name,
                     "desired_replicas": desired,
                     "current_replicas": current,
+                    "effective_replicas": effective,
                     "restore_replicas": workload.restore_replicas,
                 }
             )
 
-        active = bool(workloads) and all(item["desired_replicas"] == 0 for item in workloads)
+        active = bool(workloads) and all(item["effective_replicas"] == 0 for item in workloads)
         game = self._current_game or "unknown"
         set_game_mode_state(settings.game_mode_node_name, game, active)
         return {"status": "active" if active else "idle", "active": active, "node": settings.game_mode_node_name, "game": game, "workloads": workloads}
diff --git a/tests/test_game_mode.py b/tests/test_game_mode.py
index 4161d50..0225e65 100644
--- a/tests/test_game_mode.py
+++ b/tests/test_game_mode.py
@@ -70,6 +70,18 @@ def test_game_mode_ignores_invalid_workloads_and_fallback_replicas(monkeypatch)
     assert status["workloads"][0]["desired_replicas"] is None
 
 
+def test_game_mode_status_uses_current_when_desired_missing(monkeypatch) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.setattr(game_mode_module, "settings", _settings())
+    monkeypatch.setattr(game_mode_module, "get_json", lambda _path: {"spec": {}, "status": {"replicas": 0}})
+    monkeypatch.setattr(game_mode_module, "set_game_mode_state", lambda *args, **kwargs: None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(game_mode_module, "set_game_mode_managed_replicas", lambda *args, **kwargs: None)
+
+    status = GameModeService().status()
+
+    assert status["active"] is True
+    assert status["workloads"][0]["effective_replicas"] == 0
+
+
 def test_game_mode_rejects_unsupported_kind(monkeypatch) -> None:
     monkeypatch.setattr(game_mode_module, "settings", _settings([{"kind": "Job", "namespace": "x", "name": "y"}]))
     monkeypatch.setattr(game_mode_module, "record_game_mode_transition", lambda *args, **kwargs: None)