How to Play Elden Ring: Nightreign Early Using the New Zealand Trick

Elden Ring Jack
Last Updated Time: 2025-05-29 17:15

Understanding the New Zealand Trick
For Xbox Users
For PlayStation Users
For PC Users
Conclusion

Understanding the New Zealand Trick

release schedule of ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN

The New Zealand trick is a simple yet effective way to play games before their official launch. This method exploits the fact that New Zealand is one of the first regions in the world to experience a new day, meaning that games released there become available before they do in other time zones. Since Elden Ring: Nightreign has a staggered release schedule, players can take advantage of this to get a head start on their gaming experience.

For Xbox Users

If you're playing on an Xbox console, using the New Zealand trick is incredibly straightforward. Follow these steps:

Go to Settings: Navigate to the settings menu on your Xbox.
Change Your Region: Select System > Language & Location. Here, you can change your region to New Zealand.
Restart Your Console: After changing the region, restart your Xbox.

Once your console is back online, you will be able to access Elden Ring: Nightreign as soon as it goes live in New Zealand at 12:00 AM NZST on May 30, 2025. This translates to 5:00 AM PT/8:00 AM ET on May 29, 2025, in the United States. It’s a quick and hassle-free method that requires no additional accounts or VPNs.

For PlayStation Users

The process is a bit more complicated for PlayStation users. Here’s what you need to do:

Create a New PSN Account: You’ll need to set up a new PlayStation Network account with New Zealand as your region.
Purchase Nightreign: Buy Elden Ring: Nightreign on this New Zealand account.
Enable Console Sharing: Make sure to turn on console sharing and offline play in the account settings.
Switch Back to Your Main Account: Once you’ve set everything up, switch back to your primary account. You should now be able to launch the game.

Unfortunately, you cannot transfer pre-orders from another region, so this method requires a bit more effort and planning compared to Xbox.

For PC Users

For those playing on PC, the New Zealand trick doesn’t work in the same way. Steam does not allow users to change their region to unlock games early. However, PC players do have a slight advantage, as Elden Ring: Nightreign will be available on Steam at 3:00 PM PT/6:00 PM ET on May 29, 2025. This means that even without the New Zealand trick, PC players can start playing several hours before console users.

Conclusion

The New Zealand trick is a popular and effective way to get an early start on Elden Ring: Nightreign, especially for Xbox and PlayStation players. By simply changing your console's region, you can unlock the game as soon as it releases in New Zealand. While PlayStation users face a few extra steps, Xbox players can enjoy a seamless experience. PC gamers, while unable to use the trick, still benefit from an earlier release time on Steam.

No matter which platform you choose, the excitement surrounding Elden Ring: Nightreign is palpable, and with these methods, you can be among the first to explore the new content. Happy gaming!