What is the deal / condition for environmental link?

[Dopamine]

First, gotta b!tch about this. Crapcom really needs to spend a good chunk of development resources next title streamlining the multiplayer functionality. I know this is 100% a dead horse, but hopefully if we keep complaining they'll fix it (unlikely). It's just inexcusably bad for a pseudo-live-service game when other games have no problem syncing up the story progression between multiple players.

Anyway - can someone explain how you create an environmental link? A friend and I just beat the spider in the forest - but the game still won't let us create an environmental link so we can go out into the world and just explore or do field surveys.

I have read some different things like some players suggesting it was because they're on a quest. Well, me and my friend are trying to create the environmental link when we're at camp and the option is still greyed out. "You can't do that right now". Is it because of campaign progression or something? I feel like you will never not have a campaign mission until you...beat...the campaign...? We don't have any quests / hunts posted - option still greyed out.

Come the ♥♥♥♥ ON Crapcom.

Help / please advise?

[Popcorn]

Invite them to a Link Party then try again

Edit: I will also advise you to join the same hub as well and make a Squad
Even if both of you are in seperate hubs, you can still invite them to your Link Party