IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,427,428
Granted Patent B2
US 12,427,428 · App. 18/601,602 · Granted Sep 30, 2025

Dynamic modifications of single player and multiplayer mode in a video game

Inventors: Harold Henry Chaput (Belmont, CA); Jesse Hans Stokes Harder (Redwood City, CA); Daniel Lee Kading (Edmonton, CA); John Christopher Epler (Edmonton, CA); John Kolen (Foster City, CA); Navid Aghdaie (San Jose, CA); Kazi Atif-Uz Zaman (Foster City, CA); Kenneth Alan Moss (Redwood City, CA); Thomas Murray Perlinski (Edmonton, CA); Graham Francis Scott (Edmonton, CA)
Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
A63F13/795A63F13/335A63F13/47A63F13/48A63F13/493A63F13/822
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,427,428
App. No.
18/601,602
Granted
Sep 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A video game includes a single player mode where completion of storyline objectives advances the single player storyline. The video game also includes a multiplayer mode where a plurality of players can play on an instance of a multiplayer map. Storyline objectives from the single player mode are selected and made available for completion to players in the multiplayer mode, and the single player storylines can be advanced by players completing respective storyline objectives while playing in the multiplayer mode. Combinations of storyline objectives are selected from pending storyline objectives for players connecting to a multiplayer game for compatibility with multiplayer maps. Constraints can be used to determine compatibility.

Claims (62)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a first request associated with a plurality of storyline objectives and at least a first videogame environment map of a plurality of videogame environment maps in a videogame, wherein individual video game environment maps define a spatial layout of a virtual environment in which virtual characters can interact with each other and virtual objects within in the virtual environment;

determining a compatibility of the first videogame environment map with a plurality of storyline objectives associated with the videogame;

identifying a first subset of storyline objectives of the plurality of storyline objectives that are compatible with the first videogame environment map;

identifying a second subset of storyline objectives of the plurality of storyline objectives that are incompatible with the first videogame environment map, wherein individual;

for individual storyline objectives of the second subset of storyline objectives identifying elements that are incompatible with the first videogame environment map;

determining, using a machine learning model, one or more modifications to at least a first storyline objective of the second subset of storyline objectives; and

modifying the first storyline objective such that it is compatible with the first videogame environment map.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining constraints of the first videogame environment map that restrict compatibility of the plurality of storyline objectives with the first videogame environment map.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining one or more modifications to one or more constraints of the first videogame environment map that increases a number of storyline objectives that are compatible with the first videogame environment map.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , further comprising, wherein the constraints include lore constraints, storyline constraints, map constraints, player level constraints, resource constraints, and matchmaking rules.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a combination of storyline objectives that is compatible with the first videogame environment map, wherein a second objective and a third objective are part of the combination of storyline objectives.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , further comprising:

determining that the second objective and the third objective are simultaneously compatible with the first videogame environment map based at least in part on:

a first constraint associated with the second objective;

a second constraint associated with the third objective; and

a third constraint associated with the first videogame environment map.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 , wherein determining that the combination of storyline objectives is compatible with the first videogame environment map is performed using at least one of: a directed search or a compatibility database.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first request is associated with two or more of the plurality of videogame environment maps.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 further comprising:

determining whether any plurality of videogame environment maps are compatible with less than a threshold number of storyline objectives.

10. A computing system comprising:

a memory;

one or more data stores including computer-readable instructions; and

one or more processors configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first request associated with a plurality of storyline objectives and at least a first videogame environment map of a plurality of videogame environment maps in a videogame, wherein individual video game environment maps define a spatial layout of a virtual environment in which virtual characters can interact with each other and virtual objects within in the virtual environment;

determining a compatibility of the first videogame environment map with a plurality of storyline objectives associated with the videogame;

identifying a first subset of storyline objectives of the plurality of storyline objectives that are compatible with the first videogame environment map;

identifying a second subset of storyline objectives of the plurality of storyline objectives that are incompatible with the first videogame environment map, wherein individual;

for individual storyline objectives of the second subset of storyline objectives identifying elements that are incompatible with the first videogame environment map;

determining, using a machine learning model, one or more modifications to at least a first storyline objective of the second subset of storyline objectives; and

modifying the first storyline objective such that it is compatible with the first videogame environment map.

11. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to perform operations comprising:

determining constraints of the first videogame environment map that restrict compatibility of the plurality of storyline objectives with the first videogame environment map.

12. The computing system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to perform operations comprising:

determining one or more modifications to one or more constraints of the first videogame environment map that increases a number of storyline objectives that are compatible with the first videogame environment map.

13. The computing system of claim 12 , wherein the constraints include lore constraints, storyline constraints, map constraints, player level constraints, resource constraints, and matchmaking rules.

14. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to perform operations comprising:

determining a combination of storyline objectives that is compatible with the first videogame environment map, wherein a second objective and a third objective are part of the combination of storyline objectives.

15. The computing system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to perform operations comprising:

determining that the second objective and the third objective are simultaneously compatible with the first videogame environment map based at least in part on:

a first constraint associated with the second objective;

a second constraint associated with the third objective; and

a third constraint associated with the first videogame environment map.

16. The computing system of claim 10 , wherein the first request is associated with two or more of the plurality of videogame environment maps.

17. The computing system of claim 16 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to perform operations comprising:

determining whether any of the plurality of videogame environment maps are compatible with less than a threshold number of storyline objectives.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first request associated with a plurality of storyline objectives and at least a first videogame environment map of a plurality of videogame environment maps in a videogame, wherein individual video game environment maps define a spatial layout of a virtual environment in which virtual characters can interact with each other and virtual objects within in the virtual environment;

determining a compatibility of the first videogame environment map with a plurality of storyline objectives associated with the videogame;

identifying a first subset of storyline objectives of the plurality of storyline objectives that are compatible with the first videogame environment map;

identifying a second subset of storyline objectives of the plurality of storyline objectives that are incompatible with the first videogame environment map, wherein individual;

for individual storyline objectives of the second subset of storyline objectives identifying elements that are incompatible with the first videogame environment map;

determining, using a machine learning model, one or more modifications to at least a first storyline objective of the second subset of storyline objectives; and

modifying the first storyline objective such that it is compatible with the first videogame environment map.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the computing system is further configured to perform operations comprising:

determining constraints of the first videogame environment map that restrict compatibility of the plurality of storyline objectives with the first videogame environment map.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the computing system is further configured to perform operations comprising:

determining one or more modifications to one or more constraints of the first videogame environment map that increases a number of storyline objectives that are compatible with the first videogame environment map.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2025
From: CHAPUT, HAROLD HENRY; HARDER, JESSE HANS STOKES; EPLER, JOHN CHRISTOPHER; KOLEN, JOHN; AGHDAIE, NAVID; ZAMAN, KAZI ATIF-UZ; MOSS, KENNETH ALAN; PERLINSKI, THOMAS MURRAY; SCOTT, GRAHAM FRANCIS
To: ELECTRONIC ARTS INC.
Reel/Frame 072818/0539 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17653799 · Mar 7, 2022
Continuation 16824473 · Mar 19, 2020
Provisional Application 62824211 · Mar 26, 2019
Related Publication 20240293752A1 · Sep 5, 2024
References Cited (2)
US 11266914B2 · Chaput et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20140274371A1 · Helava et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]