The “New Zealand trick” is simple: Call of Duty Black Ops 7 goes live at midnight local time on consoles, so setting your account and device to New Zealand lets you play hours earlier in most regions. On PC, the game unlocks at fixed regional times, but some players still use a New Zealand address and local time zone to try and match earlier console access windows.
What the New Zealand trick changes
On Xbox and PlayStation, Black Ops 7 launches at 12:00 a.m. local time. New Zealand reaches midnight first, so moving your account and system to that region typically opens the game early. On PC (Steam/Battle.net), the launch is tied to a regional schedule rather than local midnight, so the trick may not beat your native unlock time depending on where you live.
| Platform | What you change | Why it works | Key caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One | Activision account address + Xbox Location to New Zealand | Console launch is midnight local time | Requires a console restart |
| PlayStation 5 | Activision account address to New Zealand | Console launch is midnight local time | Some players need a new NZ PSN account and to repurchase |
| PC (Steam/Battle.net) | Activision account address + Windows time zone to Auckland/Wellington | Attempts to align with earliest unlock | PC uses a fixed regional schedule; may not be earlier |
Use the New Zealand trick on PC (Windows)
- Sign in to your Activision account and edit your profile address to New Zealand. You can access your account from the Activision sign-in page: s.activision.com/login.
- On Windows, right-click the clock in the taskbar and open Adjust date and time.
- Turn off “Set the time zone automatically.”
- Set the time zone to “Auckland, Wellington.”
- Restart your PC and ensure your Call of Duty files are fully updated before launching.
Note: Black Ops 7 on PC unlocks by regional schedule. Depending on where you live, this may already be as fast or faster than the New Zealand approach.
Use the New Zealand trick on PlayStation 5
- Sign in to your Activision account and change your profile address to New Zealand (link above; no need to relink here).
Some players report this doesn’t always unlock the game early on PS5. Because Sony doesn’t let you change an existing PSN account’s country, you may need to create a new PSN account set to New Zealand and purchase the game there to launch at New Zealand midnight. If you do this, your Trophies and progress won’t be tied to your main account.
Use the New Zealand trick on Xbox Series X/S or Xbox One
- Sign in to your Activision account and change your profile address to New Zealand (link above; no need to relink here).
- On your Xbox, go to Settings → System → Language & Location.
- Change Location to New Zealand.
- Restart the console and launch the game.
When the New Zealand trick unlocks in your time zone
Consoles unlock Black Ops 7 at 12:00 a.m. local time. If you set your console to New Zealand, convert 12:00 a.m. in New Zealand to your local time to see how early that is for you. For example: 11:00 a.m. on November 13 in the UK, and 4:00 a.m. PST on November 13 on the US West Coast.
On PC, the game follows a fixed regional schedule. Here are the listed unlocks:
| Region (PC) | Unlock time |
|---|---|
| US West Coast | 9:00 p.m. PST on November 13 |
| US East Coast | 12:00 a.m. EST on November 14 |
| UK | 5:00 a.m. GMT on November 14 |
| Europe (Central) | 6:00 a.m. CET on November 14 |
| Australia (East) | 4:00 p.m. AEDT on November 14 |
Preload so you’re ready the moment it unlocks
Preloading is available on all platforms once you purchase the game. The install is over 100GB, so download early. Using the Call of Duty HQ launcher, you can install only the parts you need (for example, skipping the campaign if you’re heading straight to multiplayer or Zombies) to save space and time.
If the PlayStation route requires a new New Zealand PSN account and a second purchase, it’s often smarter to wait for your local midnight. On Xbox and PC, the changes above generally take a few minutes; just make sure you restart your device and confirm your files are fully updated before launch.
