Unable to allow cross-network games (Subnautica 2) on XBOX for a child account

Steve Bowes-Phipps 0 Reputation points
2026-06-21T13:08:02.71+00:00

Tried everything suggested - all settings are set and confirmed, but when he logs into the game, the setting is still greyed out? He's on XBOX Series X. I even tried setting everything to allow for 18+

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Family and online safety
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  1. AI answer

    2026-06-21T13:08:23.3233333+00:00

    For an Xbox child account, cross-network play must be allowed both in the Xbox family/online safety settings and then respected by the game/title. If the setting is correctly set to Allow but remains greyed out in a specific game (Subnautica 2), the most likely causes are:

    1. Privilege propagation delay
      Changes to family/online safety settings can take time to propagate across Xbox services. In a similar multiplayer-privilege case, it took over 24 hours before the child account could play online after the organizer changed “You can join multiplayer games” to Allow. Actions:
      • Confirm on the organizer account that for the child:
        • You can join multiplayer games = Allow
        • You can join cross-network play = Allow
      • Sign out the child account from the console and any Xbox apps/games.
      • Power cycle the console (full shutdown, then restart).
      • Wait up to 24 hours and try again.
    2. Family Safety/Xbox family group alignment
      If the account has been moved in/out of Family Safety or had restrictions changed multiple times, it can help to re-establish the configuration cleanly. Actions:
      • Ensure the child account is in a Microsoft Family group with an adult organizer via Create an Xbox Family.
      • In Family Safety, for the child, review Features and Activity reporting and disable anything not needed that might block online play.
      • In the child’s Xbox profile online safety settings, set all relevant Xbox and Windows 10 devices Online Safety options needed for multiplayer/cross-network to Allow.
      • Keep the account as a family member (do not try to bypass child status by changing DOB; this is not supported for removing restrictions).
    3. Title not respecting updated privileges
      Xbox requirements state that titles must check and respect Xbox network privileges and should not require a relaunch or backing out through multiple menus after a privilege is granted. However, some titles may only re-check privileges on startup. Actions:
      • After changing settings, fully quit Subnautica 2 and relaunch it while signed in as the child.
      • If the game still shows the option greyed out after privileges are clearly Allowed and time has passed, this may be a title-side issue. In that case, contact the game’s support with details that the Xbox child account has cross-network and multiplayer privileges set to Allow but the title is not enabling the feature.
    4. If the account behaves like a child even when set to 18+
      If the account’s date of birth makes it a child in the region, it remains a child account regardless of “18+” content sliders. The organizer must manage its online safety settings; the child cannot remove those restrictions or leave the family group until it reaches adult age per local law.

    If, after confirming all settings, waiting for propagation, and restarting the console and game, cross-network remains blocked only in this title, treat it as a game-specific compliance issue and escalate via the game’s support channel.

    References:

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