Microsoft finally wins split-screen multiplayer console-based video game patent filed during the Xbox-era by James R. J. York on December 2, 2002 on behalf of Microsoft. The patent dubbed "Dynamic join/exit of players during play of console-based video game" pertains to a "squad-based shooter" that "allows players to dynamically join and leave the game, while that game is in progress, without the players having to save and restart the game." The abstract further details a process whereby one or more players located in front of a physical game console can dynamically play the game together, with explicit reference made to screen "splitting" and "unsplitting" as players come and go.

Source:→ PC World