Managing character control in a virtual space

A computer-implemented method for managing character control in a virtual space between user instructions and non-user instructions, the method being performed by one or more processors configured by machine-readable instructions, the method comprising:

• implementing an instance of the virtual space to determine views of the virtual space, the instance of the virtual space including characters configured to be agnostic as to whether user instructions or non-user instructions dictate control of controllable aspects of the characters, the characters including a first character associated with a first user and a second character;
• receiving user instructions associated with direct user control of one or more controllable aspects of the characters, one or more controllable aspects of the first character being directly controlled by the user instructions;
• providing non-user instructions associated with control of one or more controllable aspects of the characters, the non-user instructions being uninfluenced by the user instructions;
• determining whether two or more characters are coupled together within the instance of the virtual space, the first character being coupled with the second character responsive to a coupling action performed by one or both of the first character or the second character within the instance of the virtual space;
• determining whether user instructions or non-user instructions should dictate control of controllable aspects of characters, the determination as to whether user instructions or non-user instructions dictate control of one or more controllable aspects of the second character being based on whether the first character is coupled with the second character;
• and
• dictating control of the one or more controllable aspects of the second character such that (1) the one or more controllable aspects of the second character are directly user-controlled by user instructions responsive to a determination that the first character is coupled with the second character based on performance of the coupling action by one or both of the first character or the second character and (2) the one or more controllable aspects of the second character are controlled by non-user instructions responsive to a determination that the first character is not coupled with the second character based on neither the first character nor the second character performing the coupling action.