How To Play Monster Hunter Wilds Early With the New Zealand Trick

Get ready! Monster Hunter Wilds launches globally on Friday, February 28th, but a clever trick lets you jump in early. This staggered rollout means some regions get access before others. Here's how to use the New Zealand time zone advantage to play Monster Hunter Wilds ahead of schedule.

How to Play Monster Hunter Wilds Early on Xbox Series X|S

The easiest method is using an Xbox Series X|S. Xbox's flexible region settings make this a simple process. By changing your console's region to New Zealand, you essentially trick your system into believing it's in a different time zone, allowing early access.

To do this, navigate to your Xbox settings, go to the System tab, then Language & location. Change your Location to New Zealand. Restart your Xbox for the changes to take effect, and you should be able to play Monster Hunter Wilds alongside the earliest launch regions.

How to Play Monster Hunter Wilds Early on PlayStation and PC

While not as straightforward as on Xbox, the New Zealand trick is still possible on PlayStation and PC, albeit with some extra steps. Since directly changing your region won't work here, you'll need a separate account.

To play early, create a new PSN or Steam account using a New Zealand address. You'll then need to purchase the game using New Zealand dollars (NZ$), which might be slightly more expensive than the US dollar equivalent. The price difference will depend on the current exchange rate. You might also need to purchase NZ$-denominated PSN or Steam gift cards from a third-party retailer, depending on your payment method's international transaction capabilities.

Monster Hunter Wilds Regional Launch Times

The image above displays the diverse launch times across various regions. Auckland, New Zealand, sees the earliest release at 12 AM NZDT. This translates to 6 AM the previous day in New York and 3 AM on the West Coast. Using the New Zealand trick, US players can gain nearly a full day of extra playtime, starting on Thursday, February 27th.

That's how to use the New Zealand trick to play Monster Hunter Wilds early! Happy hunting!