Play Monster Hunter Wilds Early: Use New Zealand Trick

At long last, Monster Hunter Wilds launches on Friday, February 28th. The game will have a rolling launch, meaning some regions will get it earlier than others. Here's how to play Monster Hunter Wilds early with the New Zealand trick.

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How To Play Monster Hunter Wilds Early with the New Zealand Trick on Xbox Series X|S

The easiest way to dive into Monster Hunter Wilds ahead of time is on the Xbox Series X|S. Xbox's user-friendly settings allow you to change your console's region, effectively tricking it into thinking you're in a different time zone where the game launches earlier. Here's how to do it:

To leverage the New Zealand trick, head to your Xbox settings, navigate to the System tab, and select Language and Location. Change the Location to New Zealand, then restart your Xbox to apply the changes. Once restarted, you'll be able to play Monster Hunter Wilds at the earliest launch time, syncing with New Zealand's schedule.

How To Play Monster Hunter Wilds Early on PlayStation and PC

Using the New Zealand trick on PlayStation and PC is a bit more involved but still achievable. Unlike Xbox, changing your region won't suffice; you'll need to create a new account.

To play Monster Hunter Wilds early on PlayStation 5 or PC, you'll need to set up a PSN or Steam account with a New Zealand address. Purchase the game on this account using New Zealand dollars (NZ$), which might be pricier—around $77 USD for the base edition, compared to $70 USD. You may also need to acquire New Zealand-specific PSN or Steam gift cards from third-party sites, depending on your card's international transaction capabilities.

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When Can I Play Monster Hunter Wilds? Regional Rollout, Explained

As illustrated above, Monster Hunter Wilds has a staggered release across over a dozen regions. The earliest launch is in Auckland, New Zealand, at 12 AM NZDT, which translates to 6 AM the previous day in New York and 3 AM on the West Coast. By using the New Zealand trick, players in the United States can enjoy nearly an entire extra day of gameplay on Thursday, February 27th.

And that's how to play Monster Hunter Wilds early with the New Zealand trick.