Crossplay is one of the most exciting features in NBA 2K26, finally letting Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 players team up or compete on the same courts. But for many players, crossplay isn’t working as expected. From friends not appearing in search to endless loading screens when trying to add cross-platform teammates, the problems are frustrating.
Common Issues Reported by Players
No crossplay option in settings – Some players on Xbox Series X report that there’s no crossplay toggle in the menus.
Friends not showing up – Xbox and PlayStation users often don’t appear on each other’s 2K friends lists even with crossplay enabled.
Search not working – Searching for a friend’s username either loads endlessly or times out.
Lobby sync issues – Even with crossplay on, players can’t see one another in The City or Park.
Temporary outages – Some users report crossplay suddenly stopping after working the night before.
How to fix NBA 2K26 Crossplay Not Working: 2025
While 2K hasn’t released an official patch yet, the community has discovered a few methods that can help:
Use Squad Finder
Go into “Squad Finder” from the Player Search menu.
Select similar settings to your friend.
Even without actually using it to form a squad, just opening Squad Finder seems to make you “searchable.”
Pro-Am Trick
Both players join a Pro-Am team.
Enter the Pro-Am gym together, then exit.
Many players report that after leaving, they end up in the same City lobby and can invite each other.
Ante Up Method
Coordinate with your crossplay friend to run into Ante Up at the same time.
After a few tries, you’ll often land in the same lobby. From there, invite to squad or Pro-Am.
Invite Through Others
If you can’t see your friend, find someone else from the opposite console in your City.
Ask your friend to message them for an invite. Once they’re in, you can squad up together.
Final Thoughts
Crossplay in NBA 2K26 is a big step forward, but it’s clearly not running smoothly for everyone yet. If you’re unable to connect with your Xbox or PlayStation friends, try the workarounds above—Squad Finder, Pro-Am, and Ante Up seem to be the most reliable fixes right now.
Hopefully, 2K will address these bugs in an upcoming patch so players don’t have to rely on tricks just to hoop together. Until then, patience and coordination with your friends are key.