Split-screen player cannot join the game even with a connected and working controller

Steps to reproduce the issue:

1. Launch Minecraft (Bedrock Edition) on Xbox.

2. Load any single-player world.

3. Turn on a second Xbox controller and ensure it is connected.

4. Press Start on the second controller to join the game in split-screen.

Expected result:
The second player joins the world successfully in split-screen mode.

Actual result:
Nothing happens – the game does not respond or allow the second player to join.
Restarting the world occasionally helps, but in most cases, the entire Minecraft app must be closed and restarted.

Additional Notes:

• This issue has occurred consistently over multiple Minecraft updates.

• All controllers are official Xbox hardware and work fine outside of Minecraft.

• The issue is random but fairly common, making local multiplayer unreliable.

• It happens across multiple worlds, not just a specific save.

• Temporary workarounds (like restarting the world or game) are inconsistent and not a proper fix.