Resource-efficient provisioning of multi-user applications

A method for executing a video game by a first processing device configured to receive inputs from each of two or more control devices associated with respective users, comprising a first control device associated with a first user and a second control device associated with a second user, the method comprising:

• executing a first instance of the video game at the first processing device;
• receiving data from a second processing device over a network, the data corresponding to a second instance of the video game being executed concurrently with the first instance, the second instance being instantiated by the second processing device in response to one or more events detected by the first processing device;
• providing inputs received from the first control device to the first instance of the video game, the first instance being responsive to inputs received from the first control device;
• transmitting inputs received from the second control device to the second processing device, the second instance being responsive to inputs received from the second control device;
• generating images for display based on the first instance and the second instance of the video game;
• and
• displaying the generated images.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media coupled to one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations for executing a video game by a first processing device configured to receive inputs from each of two or more control devices associated with respective users, comprising a first control device associated with a first user and a second control device associated with a second user, the operations comprising:

• executing a first instance of the video game at the first processing device;
• receiving data from a second processing device over a network, the data corresponding to a second instance of the video game being executed concurrently with the first instance, the second instance being instantiated by the second processing device in response to one or more events detected by the first processing device;
• providing inputs received from the first control device to the first instance of the video game, the first instance being responsive to inputs received from the first control device;
• transmitting inputs received from the second control device to the second processing device, the second instance being responsive to inputs received from the second control device;
• generating images for display based on the first instance and the second instance of the video game;
• and
• displaying the generated images.