If you and your squad have been trying to jump into some 3v3 Co-Op action in MLB The Show 26 only to be met with constant "challenge failed" screens, endless queues, or random mid-game disconnections, you are definitely not alone.

Co-Op is easily one of the best ways to play Diamond Dynasty, but it is also notoriously sensitive to network issues. Because a 3v3 match relies on keeping six different players in perfect sync across potentially three different console platforms, it doesn't take much for the game to throw a tantrum. These errors usually boil down to server desynchronization between teammates, crossplay handshake bugs, or weird hardware conflicts with high-refresh-rate displays.

If your squad is stuck on the bench, here is a breakdown of the best community-verified fixes to get you back on the diamond.

The "Demo Mode" Main Menu Bypass

This is one of those classic, weird workarounds that sounds like an urban legend but actually works. If your game throws immediate server errors or refuses to even initiate a matchmaking request right after you boot it up, your server tokens might be stale. You can force the game to re-authenticate them using the main menu's demo mode.

1. Launch MLB The Show 26 and just sit on the main menu.

2. Do not press any buttons. Leave your controller alone and let the game sit completely idle.

3. Wait until the game automatically enters its automated Demo Mode (where the AI plays a game).

4. As soon as the demo gameplay starts up, press any button to exit back to the menu.

5. Head straight into Diamond Dynasty and try to queue up for Co-Op.

This simple trick forces the game to refresh your connection tokens with the servers, which often clears out instant matchmaking failures.

Turn Off 120Hz Output on Your Console

One of the most prominent bugs currently impacting online Co-Op is tied directly to high-refresh-rate video settings. For some reason, running the game at 120Hz causes severe network synchronization drops specifically when entering Co-Op lobbies. Temporarily dropping your console down to 60Hz often fixes the issue instantly.

• On PlayStation 5: Go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. Find the "Enable 120Hz Output" option and change it from Automatic to Off.

• On Xbox Series X|S: Go to Settings > General > TV & Display Options. Change your Refresh Rate from 120Hz down to 60Hz.

Once you have changed this setting, relaunch the game, invite your friends, and try searching for a match. You can always turn 120Hz back on when you go back to playing solo modes.

Try a Squad Reset and Host Rotation

Because 3v3 matchmaking depends on data packets traveling smoothly between three different clients on your team alone, an invisible glitch or lobby lag on just one player's end will freeze the queue for everyone.

• The Simultaneous Restart: Have everyone in your 3v3 party completely close the MLB The Show 26 game application. Don't just sit in the lobby while one person restarts—everyone needs to exit out. Re-launching the game at the exact same time flushes out the temporary lobby data that might be causing the hang-up.

• Swap the Lobby Leader: If you reform the group and it still times out, dissolve the squad and have someone else host. Ideally, the player with the most stable, hardwired internet connection should be the one sending out the invites and leading the search.

Toggle Your Crossplay Settings

Cross-platform handshakes between PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch are heavy bottlenecks, especially during peak evening hours or weekend content drops.

• If your whole squad is on the same console family: (For example, you are all playing on PlayStation). Go into your profile settings and turn Crossplay OFF. This narrows your matchmaking pool strictly to your own console network, eliminating multi-platform timeout errors entirely.

• If your squad is multi-platform: Make sure every single member has Crossplay explicitly toggled ON. If it is already enabled but you are still getting errors, have everyone turn it off, save the settings, turn it back on, and then restart the game application to force a fresh handshake.

Check Your Local Network Stability

If you are actually getting into games but constantly getting disconnected around the 3rd or 7th inning, your local network is likely dropping packets. Baseball games are long, and a split-second drop in connection that you wouldn't even notice in a shooter or a battle royale will completely kick you from an MLB server.

• Hardwire your connection: If you are playing on Wi-Fi, try running a temporary Ethernet cable to your console. It makes a massive difference in stability for Co-Op modes.

• Check the server status: Before you lose your mind troubleshooting your own gear, check to see if the servers are just down. Take a look at the official MLB The Show X account (formerly Twitter) or DownDetector to see if the developers are running unannounced server maintenance or experiencing a widespread outage.