Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 dropped on October 25, 2024, for both PC and consoles, but hey, some folks in New Zealand got it first due to the timezone quirks. Even if that’s old news now, this trick is kinda useful because it applies to more than just this game—think early access for upcoming releases, especially on Xbox. So, if you’re trying to get a head start or just curious, here’s the lowdown on how it worked (at least for a little while) and what you can try.
How do I play BO6 early on Xbox?
- Fire up a browser on your PC and log into your Activision account. Sometimes this step is tedious, but you gotta connect your Xbox profile to Activision first.
- Click on the Xbox icon in your account—if it’s not connected, you’ll need to do that now, or this whole trick won’t work.
- Hit the blue Profile button, then choose Basic Info from the menu on the left.
- Next, click on Edit next to your address. Enter a mock New Zealand address (just Google one if needed), and importantly, change the country dropdown to New Zealand. This is kinda weird, but it sometimes tricks the system into thinking you’re actually there.
- Press Save before moving on.
- Now, on your Xbox console, head over to Settings.
- Navigate to System, then pick Language & location.
- Change the Location to New Zealand. Usually, you’ll see a dropdown or list for this.
- When asked, choose Restart Now to let your Xbox reboot with these new regional settings. Yep, this resets the system language and location—sometimes it’s needed for the trick to hold.
Be aware—sometimes this process isn’t perfect. On some setups, the Xbox might revert or refuse to change properly, so don’t be surprised if it’s a bit hit or miss. Also, remember that changing your region this way could affect things like the store or available games, not just early access.
How to play BO6 early on PC?
This one’s kinda trickier, especially on Steam or Battle.net—thanks, regional restrictions. But on the Microsoft Store version, it’s more forgiving. First, repeat the initial steps of editing your Activision account to set your country to New Zealand. Once that’s sorted, try these:
- Click on the Start menu, then go to Settings.
- Select Time & language from the sidebar, then head over to Language & region.
- Find the Region setting and pick New Zealand from the list. Sometimes, you might need to add it if it’s not there yet.
- Reboot your PC to make sure the changes stick—the system might need a fresh start.
Another option: firing up a VPN with a New Zealand server. It’s kind of annoying because of additional lag, but it seems to do the trick for some people who can’t get the region change to work in settings. The list of good VPN tools is out there, and picking one with a reliable New Zealand server can make a difference.
What’s all this about? Well, it’s kind of a gamble. Some developers have detection tricks against region spoofing—so, yeah, don’t use your main account, especially if you’re planning to jump into multiplayer. A secondary or “test” account might be safer. Also, be aware that if everyone tries this, servers could get crowded or, worse, get overwhelmed. Use it responsibly, and don’t complain if things go sideways.
And hey, if you managed to get BO6 early on Xbox or PC, drop a comment—curiosity’s always high on this stuff.