diff --git a/src/system/xnet_transport.cpp b/src/system/xnet_transport.cpp
index 1bb3ffa..1c8486a 100644
--- a/src/system/xnet_transport.cpp
+++ b/src/system/xnet_transport.cpp
@@ -198,6 +198,16 @@ void XNetTransport::ForceLiveFlag() {
   };
   force_byte(0x8308396C, "0x8308396C (live user exists)");
   force_byte(0x83084690, "0x83084690 (online access)");
+  // The party state machine (sub_82A1B310) can't leave state 1 unless the
+  // game's EA-Nation flag (party+417) is 1 - it is set at party-create from
+  // a config-string comparison that never matches in the recomp. The party
+  // struct is a static object at 0x82FD9750, so force its gate bytes:
+  //   +417 = EA-Nation enabled (state 1 gate)
+  //   +421 = online flag (set by the EA resolver alongside the online IP)
+  //   +423 = 'EA connected' marker (state 6 target, unlocks advertise/join)
+  force_byte(0x82FD98F1, "party+417 (EA-Nation flag)");
+  force_byte(0x82FD98F5, "party+421 (online flag)");
+  force_byte(0x82FD98F7, "party+423 (EA connected)");
   // Broadcast the Live signin-changed event a few times at startup so the
   // game's sign-in manager runs and designates the profile as the live user
   // (it only does this when it processes a real signin notification, which