Monster Hunter Wilds looks to take the series to new heights with its seamless open world and fresh monsters to take on.
While there is no early access period tied to any premium versions of the game, you can play ahead of some using a ‘New Zealand trick’.
Here, we’ll explain what this is and how you can apply it to your device, meaning you’ll be able to play Monster Hunter Wilds ahead of the release time for your region.
Monster Hunter Wilds New Zealand trick explained
If you’re eager to start playing Monster Hunter Wilds before its official launch in your region, the New Zealand trick is your best bet.
This tried and tested method allows you to access globally released games early by taking advantage of New Zealand’s time zone, which is ahead of most other regions.
While this trick works for many day-one releases, it’s only fully effective on Xbox Series X|S.
Unlike PlayStation and PC, which require a New Zealand-locked account or purchase, Xbox users can simply change their console’s region and gain early access without any additional purchases.
To play Monster Hunter Wilds early, you’ll need to change your Xbox console’s region to New Zealand in the system settings.
Here are the steps you need to follow to switch your Xbox region and play early:
- Turn on your Xbox Series X|S and navigate to the Settings menu.
- Select System, then go to Language & Location.
- Under Location, choose New Zealand from the list.
- Select Restart Now when prompted.
After your Xbox reboots, it will now operate as if it’s in New Zealand’s time zone, allowing you to access Monster Hunter Wilds at its New Zealand launch time — which is often up to a full day ahead of other regions like North America or Europe.
Then, when Wilds releases in your location, you can simply switch back to your initial country and it would be like nothing had ever happened.
