If you’re trying to “switch” a PS5 to New Zealand for payments, releases, or store access, the key detail is this: the PS5 hardware has no country setting. The region lives with your PlayStation Network (PSN) account, and that country is locked once the account is created. A factory reset won’t change it, and a different console won’t help.
PS5 region basics
| Topic | What’s fixed | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Console region | PS5 hardware doesn’t have a country/region | Use it anywhere; region is tied to accounts and content |
| PSN account country | Locked after account creation | Create a new PSN account with New Zealand as the country |
| Payment methods | Must match the account’s country | Use a New Zealand payment method or NZ PlayStation Store gift cards |
| Purchases and licenses | Tied to the buying account | Share games to your console; play them from other users on the same PS5 |
| DLC and add-ons | Must match the base game’s region (disc or digital) | Buy add-ons from the same region as your base game |
| Release unlock time | Based on the store region of the license | Buying on a New Zealand account unlocks on the NZ schedule; changing time won’t |
Changing the time zone won’t unlock games early
Adjusting the PS5’s time or time zone does nothing for release times. Digital games unlock based on the region of the store where the license was purchased. If your license is from a different region, the unlock follows that region’s timing—not your console clock.
How to access the New Zealand PlayStation Store on PS5
The workable approach is to keep your current account and add a second account set to New Zealand. That lets you buy and download NZ-region content while keeping trophies and friends on your main account.
- Create a new user on your PS5 and choose to create a PSN account. When prompted, set Country/Region to New Zealand.
- Add the new account to your PS5 and sign in.
- Enable console-wide sharing so other users on this PS5 can play content from the NZ account. On the NZ account, go to
Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Playand turn it on. For details, see the official guide for Console Sharing and Offline Play. - Fund the NZ wallet using a New Zealand-issued payment method or New Zealand PlayStation Store gift cards.
- Buy and download games on the NZ account. Once installed, switch to your main account to play—trophies record on the account you’re using to play.
What carries over, what doesn’t
- Your existing games: You keep everything you already own on your original account and can play them anywhere you sign in. Purchases do not transfer to a new account.
- Sharing content: With Console Sharing and Offline Play enabled on your PS5, games bought on the NZ account can be launched by other users on that same console.
- DLC and add-ons: Add-on content must match the region of the base game. If your disc or digital base game is from a different region, buy the corresponding region’s DLC.
- In-game currency: Balances and entitlements are tied to the purchasing account and typically won’t cross accounts or regions.
- Payment details: You can’t add a card from one country to a wallet in another. Use a matching-country card or region-appropriate gift cards.
Moving countries? Don’t replace the console
Swapping hardware won’t change anything—there’s no “country of origin” on a PS5 to reset. Keep your original account for your library, add a New Zealand account for local purchases, and use console sharing to make all content available on the same box.
