The much-anticipated *Monster Hunter Wilds* is set to launch on Friday, February 28th, with a rolling release that varies by region. If you're eager to dive into the game as soon as possible, you can use the New Zealand trick to play *Monster Hunter Wilds* early. Here's how to do it across different platforms.
How to Play Monster Hunter Wilds Early with the New Zealand Trick on Xbox Series X|S
Playing *Monster Hunter Wilds* early is simplest on the Xbox Series X|S. Xbox allows you to easily change your console's region, which can trick the system into thinking you're in a different time zone, enabling early access. To use this trick, go to the Xbox settings, navigate to the System tab, click on Language and Location, and set the Location to New Zealand. After making this change, restart your Xbox. Once it's back on, you should be able to play *Monster Hunter Wilds* at the same time as the earliest region, Auckland, New Zealand.
How to Play Monster Hunter Wilds Early on PlayStation and PC
Using the New Zealand trick on PlayStation and PC is a bit more complicated. Unlike the Xbox, changing your region on PS5 or PC won't suffice. Instead, you'll need to create a new PSN or Steam account with a New Zealand address and purchase the game on that account using New Zealand dollars (NZ$). Note that this might be more costly, with the base edition of *Monster Hunter Wilds* costing around $77 USD due to the exchange rate. You may also need to buy New Zealand-specific PSN or Steam gift cards from third-party sites if your card doesn't support international purchases.
When Can I Play Monster Hunter Wilds? Regional Rollout, Explained
*Monster Hunter Wilds* will launch at different times across over a dozen regions. The earliest release will be 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 start playing nearly a full day earlier on Thursday, February 27th.
And that's how you can play *Monster Hunter Wilds* early using the New Zealand trick.
