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

Get ready to hunt! Monster Hunter Wilds launches globally on Friday, February 28th, but with a staggered rollout, some players can get a head start. Here's how to use the New Zealand trick to play early.

Playing Monster Hunter Wilds Early on Xbox Series X|S

The easiest method for early access is on Xbox Series X|S. Xbox allows simple region changes, effectively shifting your console's timezone. Here's how:

1. Navigate to your Xbox settings.
2. Go to the System tab, then Language & Location.
3. Change your Location to New Zealand.
4. Restart your Xbox for the changes to take effect.

That's it! You should now be able to play Monster Hunter Wilds alongside the earliest launch regions.

Playing Monster Hunter Wilds Early on PlayStation and PC

While less straightforward than on Xbox, the New Zealand trick is still possible on PlayStation and PC, albeit with some added steps. Since direct region changes won't work, you'll need a separate account:

1. Create a new PlayStation Network (PSN) or Steam account, using a New Zealand address.
2. Purchase Monster Hunter Wilds on this account using New Zealand dollars (NZ$). Note that this may be slightly more expensive than the USD equivalent. You might need to purchase NZ$ gift cards from a third-party retailer depending on your payment method's international transaction capabilities.

Monster Hunter Wilds Regional Release Times

The image above details the varied release times across different regions. Auckland, New Zealand, gets the earliest access at 12 AM NZDT, translating to 6 AM the previous day in New York and 3 AM PST. Using the New Zealand trick, US players can potentially play almost a full day early, starting Thursday, February 27th.

That's how to utilize the New Zealand trick for early Monster Hunter Wilds access! Happy hunting!