Excitement is building as the release of Black Ops 6 approaches, and for those who can’t contain their enthusiasm, there’s an option to experience it ahead of time by utilizing the New Zealand timezone trick.
Unlike previous installments, Activision has eliminated early access for Black Ops 6, which typically allowed players to dive into the campaign first. This time, the entire package—including the campaign, multiplayer, and Zombies—will be available simultaneously on the global launch date of October 25.
Nevertheless, there’s still a way to gain early access to the action. Below, you’ll find instructions on how to utilize the New Zealand trick to start playing BO6 before its official launch, along with the specifics on when to expect to go live.
How to Use the New Zealand Trick for Black Ops 6
For Xbox Users
- Access your console’s settings menu.
- Scroll down to the System section.
- Select ‘Language and Location.’
- Change the ‘Location’ to New Zealand.
- Select ‘Restart Now’ to apply the new setting.
- Navigate to the official Call of Duty website.
- Log into your account.
- Go to the ‘Basic Info’ section.
- Update your address to a New Zealand location.
- Click ‘Save’ to confirm the changes.
For PC Players (Game Pass)
- Open your Windows settings.
- Go to ‘Time and Language.’
- Click on ‘Region.’
- Set your location to New Zealand.
- Restart your computer.
- Log back into the Xbox app, where your currency will now display in NZDs.
- Visit the Call of Duty website to repeat the same steps for your Activision account.
For PlayStation Users
The process for PS4 and PS5 is slightly more complex. Black Ops 6 will be rolled out as content packs via the Call of Duty HQ app, rather than as a large update as seen in past releases. Therefore, the effectiveness of the NZ trick remains uncertain this year.
Additionally, PSN assigns your account to a specific region upon creation, and changing it post-creation is not possible. Users have previously navigated this by creating a new account with a New Zealand address and purchasing the game from the Kiwi PlayStation Store.
If this option proves viable again, we’ll make sure to provide a detailed guide. Until then, it’s wise to hold off to avoid potential issues with a mismatched account region.
For Steam and Battle.net Players
Sadly, those using Steam or Battle.net will not be able to use this method. Both platforms lock users into specific regions without an option for change, meaning you won’t have opportunity to adjust your timezone and play Black Ops 6 early.
When Will You Be Able to Play Black Ops 6?
If you follow the above steps, you can log in and start playing Black Ops 6 on October 24 at 4 AM PT / 7 AM ET / 12 PM BST. For players in the western United States, this means accessing the game a full 20 hours before others in your time zone, or 17 hours for those in the east, and 12 hours for players in the UK.
This early availability is made possible by shifting your region settings, allowing you to access the game at the same time as those situated in New Zealand, due to their advanced timezone compared to regions like Europe and North America.
Thus, while you may not get several days of early access to fully immerse in the campaign, you’ll still enjoy a solid head start over the worldwide release.
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