How to Play Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Early Using the New Zealand Trick

With the global release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 just around the corner, excitement is through the roof. Whether you’re gearing up for Zombies, Multiplayer, or the new Campaign, every minute of early access counts — especially for players who want to level up faster or secure early weapon unlocks.

Fortunately, there’s a long-standing workaround that lets fans dive in before most of the world: the New Zealand time zone trick.

🌏 How the New Zealand Trick Works

Games like Call of Duty typically release at midnight local time. Because New Zealand is among the first countries to hit that time zone, changing your system region to New Zealand can give you access up to 18 hours early, depending on where you live.

Here’s how to do it based on your platform:

🎮 PlayStation 5

1. Go to the Activision website. 2. Log in to your Activision account. 3. Click Profile > Basic Info > Edit next to your address. 4. Enter a New Zealand address (you can use a public one like an Auckland business). 5. Click Save. 6. Create or log into a New Zealand-based PSN account to access the game earlier.

⚠️ Note: This method worked for past Call of Duty launches, though some users reported mixed results during Black Ops 6.

🧨 Xbox Series X|S

1. Log in to your Activision account and update your region to New Zealand (same steps as PS5). 2. On your Xbox, go to Settings → System → Language & Location. 3. Under “Location,” select New Zealand. 4. Restart your console to confirm the change.

Once restarted, your system will now recognize New Zealand’s release schedule — unlocking the game as soon as it drops there.

💻 PC (Xbox App)

This trick only works for players who use the Xbox app for PC. Steam users will have to wait until their regional release time.

1. Update your Activision account address to New Zealand. 2. Open Settings → Time & Language → Language & Region. 3. Under “Country or region,” select New Zealand. 4. Restart your PC to apply the settings.

🚀 Why It’s Worth Trying

While this isn’t an official early access program, the New Zealand method has been a go-to for years — letting players around the world get in a few extra hours of grinding before the servers fill up.

If you’re eager to explore Black Ops 7’s new Zombies mode, dominate early Multiplayer matches, or simply dive into the Campaign first, this is your best shot at getting ahead of the curve.

Just remember: results may vary, and Activision could restrict access until your local release time.

⚡ Final Thoughts

With Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 set to release globally on November 14, anticipation couldn’t be higher. Whether you plan to go all-in on multiplayer or lose hours to the undead in Zombies, this early access workaround could give you the edge.

So, if you’re ready to play before the rest of the world — pack your digital bags and move to New Zealand.

Explore more Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 news and updates on the 1v1Me blog