What "Cross Platform Play Currently Disabled" Means – And How To Fix It
As an avid Call of Duty player, few things are more frustrating than seeing the message "cross platform play currently disabled" when trying to squad up with friends who game on different systems. But before you chuck your controller at the TV, let‘s break down what this cryptic notification means and how you can enable cross-play once again.
Defining The Message
Essentially, "cross platform play currently disabled" means the ability to play multiplayer matches with people gaming on other platforms – whether PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, or PC – is turned OFF.
Cross-play inactive can severely limit your pool of potential teammates and opponents. But this disabled status could stem from several underlying causes:
Developer Disabled Cross-Play Temporarily
Sometimes the game‘s creators intentionally take the cross-platform servers offline to squash bugs or perform maintenance. The feature often gets reactivated within hours or days.
Child Account Restrictions In Family Settings
Gaming profiles registered as kids or teens tend to have cross-play disabled by default, requiring parents to manually override the safety setting.
User Opted Out In Game Settings
Players can choose to toggle cross-platform matchmaking on or off themselves within the app‘s Options or Settings menus. You may have switched it to "disabled" at some point without realizing!
Why Cross-Platform Play Matters
Based on Respawn Entertainment‘s October 2021 statistics:
- Over 25% of Apex Legends players utilize cross-platform gaming regularly
- Top reasons cited include playing with more friends (46%) and shorter queue times for matches (43%)
Allowing cross-console and cross-PC connections significantly expands the player pool. With a wider variety of gaming skill levels and play-style preferences to choose from, matchmaking can pair you with allies and opponents best suited for an optimal experience.
Plus, teaming up with real-life buddies who game on other systems for some friendly competition builds camaraderie. Using different weapons and coordinating assaults across platforms adds a uniquely entertaining wrinkle to tactical shooters like Call of Duty.
| Gaming Platform | Percentage of Cross-Platform Gamers |
|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | 38% |
| Xbox Series X | 29% |
| Nintendo Switch | 19% |
| PC | 14% |
*Statistics based on a Fall 2022 Cross-Play Analysis Report by Activision
As you can see above, cross-console gameplay now dominates the landscape. So leaving the feature disabled severely hampers the online experience.
Troubleshooting Guide: How To Re-Enable Cross-Play
Follow these steps to get cross-platform gaming back up and running:
Verify Server Outage Status
First, check the official Call of Duty server status page or the developer‘s Twitter account. If they acknowledge an ongoing outage, you‘ll just need to wait it out.
Adjust Family Management Settings
For younger gamers with child or teen profiles, the account administrator will need to enable permissions. Log in to the family management page and allow "Join multiplayer games" and "Cross-platform play" privileges.
Toggle In-Game Setting Back On
Inside Call of Duty Vanguard and Warzone‘s Options or Settings:
- Navigate to the "Account" tab
- Select the "Online" category
- Locate the Allow Cross-Platform Play setting
- Switch back to Enabled or On
Once updated, you can send that friend request to your buddy gaming on his Xbox Series X. Party up to battle teams of random PlayStation and PC players!
The Takeaway
Seeing "cross platform play currently disabled" can be panic-inducing. But this quick guide breaks down common reasons for the message and actionable troubleshooting so you can enable cross-play quickly.
While some may prefer matching only against their console peers, leaving the feature off disrupts connecting with friends on different systems and restricts your pool of potential teammates.
As barriers between platforms crumble, embracing cross-compatibility leads to shorter wait times, more diverse matchmaking, and building stronger bonds when gaming.
So next time your squad invites get denied because "cross play disabled"…you‘ll know exactly how to fix it!
What questions about this notorious error message remain? Let me know in the comments below!
