With the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (BO6) set for October 25, 2024, many fans are eager to jump into the action ahead of time. While official early access isn’t available, there is a popular method known as the “New Zealand trick” that allows players to start playing BO6 almost a full day early. This trick works by taking advantage of the time zone differences, as New Zealand is ahead of most other regions. Here’s how to make it work across different platforms.
The New Zealand Trick Explained
The idea behind the New Zealand trick is simple: by setting your console or PC’s location to New Zealand, you can access the game as soon as it goes live there. For example, if you’re in the United States, you could start playing BO6 as early as 7 AM ET on October 24. This trick only works for digital copies, as physical copies are still subject to shipping schedules.
Playing Early on Xbox
For Xbox users, follow these steps:
- Open your console’s settings menu.
- Navigate to the “System” section and select “Language & Location.”
- Change your location to New Zealand.
- Restart your console to apply the changes.
- Additionally, update your Activision profile by logging into the website, editing your address, and selecting New Zealand as your country. Save the changes and attempt to launch the game.
This method can give you access to the game early, but be prepared to revert your location settings after the official release to avoid complications like using New Zealand currency on the Xbox store.
Early Access on PlayStation
Playing early on PlayStation is a bit more complex. The console doesn’t offer direct region switching like Xbox, so you need to adjust your Activision account’s region instead:
- Log into your Activision account on the website.
- Under the “Basic Info” section, change your country to New Zealand.
- Save the changes.
While this workaround isn’t officially supported, many players have reported success using this method. Some opt to create a new PSN account with New Zealand as the chosen region for a smoother experience.
Getting Started on PC
The New Zealand trick is limited to the Microsoft Store version of BO6 for PC players. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to your computer’s “Time & Language” settings.
- Change the region to New Zealand.
- Restart your PC.
- Log in to your Activision account and update your country to New Zealand.
Unfortunately, this method won’t work on Steam or Battle.net due to regional restrictions on those platforms.
Considerations and Risks
While the New Zealand trick has been used successfully for previous game releases, it’s important to note that this is not officially supported by Activision or platform holders. Changing regions could affect in-game purchases or updates, and there’s always a chance of encountering technical issues. So far, however, no penalties have been reported for using this trick to gain early access.
Joining Friends Who Are Playing Early
If changing your region settings doesn’t appeal to you, there is an alternative way to join the game early. You can accept an invite from a friend who is already playing, which could allow you to access the game through the social tab. Joining a friend’s lobby might unlock the game temporarily on your system.
The New Zealand trick is a popular and mostly reliable way to get a head start on BO6. It works best for those using digital copies and is easiest to execute on Xbox or through the Microsoft Store on PC. For PlayStation players, setting up a secondary account in New Zealand could be the simplest approach. As always, remember to revert your settings after the official release to avoid any region-specific issues.
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