You’re sitting there, staring at a countdown timer that feels like it’s moving in slow motion. We’ve all been there. The new Call of Duty is less than 24 hours away, your social feed is already filling up with leaked gameplay clips from people who somehow got in, and you’re stuck waiting for a digital clock to hit midnight. It’s annoying. Honestly, it’s more than annoying—it’s a competitive disadvantage if you’re trying to level up weapons for Warzone or hit that first Prestige before your friends even finish the download.
But here is the thing: you actually don’t have to wait. There are legitimate, proven ways to get around those regional rollout schedules. You’ve probably heard of the "New Zealand trick," which is the gold standard for Call of Duty launches, but there are nuances to it that most people mess up, leading to "Connection Failed" errors or, worse, regional lock issues.
Let's get into how to play COD early and what actually works versus what is just a myth.
The New Zealand Trick: Why It Actually Works
It’s basically geography. Call of Duty typically uses a "rolling launch" for its digital releases. This means the game goes live at midnight local time for every region. Because New Zealand is significantly ahead of the United States and Europe—usually about 13 to 18 hours depending on your specific time zone—they are the first people on the planet to touch the servers.
If you are on Xbox, you have it easy. Microsoft is weirdly chill about this. You can literally just jump into your system settings, swap your location to New Zealand, and restart your console. That’s it. You don't need a VPN. You don't need a new account. Your console essentially tells the Activision servers, "Hey, I'm in Auckland right now," and the server shrugs and lets you in.
PlayStation users? It’s a whole different headache. Sony locks your region to the specific store where you bought the game. If you bought the game on a US PSN account, changing your console's time zone won't do a thing. To play early on PS5, you’d actually have to create a separate New Zealand-based PSN account and purchase the game through that account using NZ-specific PSN gift cards. It’s expensive and honestly kinda overkill for a 12-hour head start, but for the hardcore grinders, that is the only way.
PC Players and the Battle.net Struggle
PC is where things get tricky. If you’re on Battle.net or Steam, Activision usually enforces a "Global Launch" time. This means everyone on PC starts at the exact same moment regardless of where they live. Usually, this aligns with 9 PM PT or Midnight ET in the States.
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Can you use a VPN? Sorta. In years past, some players have used a VPN to spoof their location to Singapore or New Zealand to trick the Battle.net client. Sometimes it works; sometimes it results in your account being flagged for suspicious activity. Honestly, I wouldn't risk a $70 purchase and a decade-old Battle.net account just to play six hours early on PC. The risk-to-reward ratio is just bad. Plus, PC players often deal with "Shaders Optimizing" screens anyway, which eat up half of that early access time regardless.
Physical Copies and the "Street Date" Gamble
While digital is the most common way people try to play COD early, don't sleep on physical discs. It’s rare now, but "mom and pop" local gaming shops or even some big-box retailers like Walmart occasionally break the street date. If you get a physical disc two days early, you can pop it in and start the massive day-one patch download.
However, there is a catch.
Even if you have the disc, you are still tethered to the servers. If Activision hasn't flipped the switch for the New Zealand launch yet, you're stuck playing the Campaign or local split-screen. You won't be touching Multiplayer or Zombies until those servers go live somewhere in the world.
The Ethics and Bans: Will You Get Reset?
This is the question everyone asks: "Will Activision ban me for the New Zealand trick?"
Historically, the answer is no. Thousands of players, including major streamers like Scump or CouRageJD, have used this method for years. Activision seems to view it as a quirk of the platform rather than a "hack." You aren't manipulating the game's code; you’re just changing a console setting.
That said, do not try to buy COD points or items in the store while your region is swapped. That is where you run into real trouble. Dealing with regional pricing differences can trigger fraud alerts on your credit card or your platform account. Swap the region, play the game, and swap back once it officially launches in your home territory. Don't touch the store. Just don't.
Setting Up Your Activision Account Correctly
A detail most people miss is the Activision ID itself. Even if your Xbox is set to New Zealand, your Activision account (the one linked to your Call of Duty profile) has its own regional settings.
- Go to the Call of Duty official website.
- Log in to your profile.
- Check your basic info.
- Ensure your address isn't hard-locked to a region that conflicts with your console.
Sometimes, if the game sees a massive discrepancy between your console location and your Activision profile location, it will throw a "Server Disconnected" error. It’s a simple fix, but it’s the reason half of the people on Reddit complain that the trick "doesn't work anymore."
Why Early Access Matters for the Meta
Why do people care so much? It isn't just about playing. It’s about the "Meta."
In modern Call of Duty, the first 24 hours are a gold rush. People are looking for the "broken" gun—the one with the fastest Time to Kill (TTK). If you get in 15 hours early, you can have a gun fully leveled up with the best attachments before the general population even logs in. When the masses arrive, you’re the one with the 2x optic and the recoil-reducing muzzle while they are struggling with iron sights.
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It’s also about the camo grind. For those going for Interstellar, Borealis, or whatever the new mastery camo is, every hour counts.
Performance Issues During Early Windows
You should expect the worst. Seriously.
When you play early via New Zealand, you are playing on servers physically located on the other side of the planet (unless you use a localized VPN, which can be hit-or-miss). Your ping is going to be terrible. You're looking at 200ms to 300ms latency. You will lag. You will see "rubber-banding." You will get shot behind walls.
It’s the price you pay for being first.
Also, the "Day One Patch" is a real thing. Sometimes that patch doesn't roll out until the actual global launch, meaning your early access version might be buggier than what everyone else plays tomorrow. Be prepared for crashes. It’s part of the ritual.
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Summary of Actionable Steps
If you want to get in as soon as humanly possible, follow this exact sequence:
- Xbox Users: Go to Settings > System > Language & Location. Change Location to New Zealand. Restart. Once the New Zealand launch time hits (usually 4 AM to 7 AM PT the day before US launch), you are good to go.
- PlayStation Users: Don't bother unless you are willing to buy a New Zealand PSN card and repurchase the game on a fresh NZ account. It’s generally not worth it.
- PC Users: Check the official "Global Launch Map" posted on the Call of Duty Twitter (X) account. Your time is fixed. Use the pre-load window to ensure your files are 100% ready.
- All Platforms: Link your Activision account to your platform of choice at least 24 hours in advance. This prevents the "Account Verification" bottleneck that happens when millions of people try to log in at once.
- Pre-Loading: Always pre-load. Modern COD files are massive, often exceeding 150GB. If you start the download at the moment of launch, your "early access" is just a long progress bar.
The New Zealand trick remains the most effective way to jump the line. It's a simple regional bypass that has survived through every release from Modern Warfare (2019) through the most recent titles. Just remember to switch back to your actual region after the game launches in your home country to ensure your matchmaking remains stable and your ping stays low. No one likes playing on 300ms ping forever. It's strictly a first-day tactic. Once you're in, focus on those early weapon levels and enjoy the chaos before the SBMM (Skill-Based Matchmaking) fully kicks in and the lobbies get sweaty.