For years, Call of Duty fans have been finding creative ways to jump into the battlefield before everyone else. With Black Ops 7 just around the corner, that same tradition lives on and this time, the so-called New Zealand Trick has once again become the community’s favorite shortcut.
The idea is simple: Since New Zealand sits at the edge of the international date line, games there technically “launch” hours before the rest of the world. By adjusting your console or PC region to match New Zealand, you can unlock the game earlier than your local time zone would normally allow.
It’s not a hack, it’s not an exploit; it’s just smart use of global time zones. But kindly reminders at first:
- This method only works on PlayStation, Xbox, and the Xbox App for PC; not on Steam or Battle.net, which remain locked to official global launch schedules.
- You may need a payment method valid in the New Zealand region for certain purchases. Gift cards are a simple workaround if your card isn’t accepted.
- Always remember to switch back to your original region once the game is live globally, to avoid any store or payment inconsistencies later.
So the, here’s how to pull it off safely, step-by-step:
1. How to do on PlayStation 5?
- Log into your Activision account through a web browser.
- Head to Profile → Basic Info → Edit Address and change your Country/Region to New Zealand.
- On your PS5, go to Settings → System → Language & Location.
- Set your Location to New Zealand and restart your console.
- Once back online, your store region and release schedule should match NZ timing, giving you access several hours early.
2. How to do on PC? (via Xbox App)
- Open Settings → Time & Language → Region on Windows.
- Switch your Country or Region to New Zealand.
- Restart your PC.
- Open the Xbox App and confirm your new region setting.
- Log in to your Activision account and update your region there as well.
3. How to do on Xbox Series X|S?
- Go to Settings → System → Language & Location.
- Set Location to New Zealand and restart your console.
- Update your Activision account region accordingly.
The New Zealand Trick has become something of a Call of Duty tradition. Every year, eager fans shift their clocks just to step onto the battlefield a few hours earlier than the rest of the world. It’s harmless, simple, and a little bit rebellious; the perfect mix for a franchise built on adrenaline.
With Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 bringing new maps, modes, and a fresh take on Zombies, those extra hours might just give you the edge you need to rank up fast.
So, will you catch the first flight to New Zealand and deploy before everyone else or wait for midnight like the rest of the world and drop in together? Let’s meet in the comments!
