PC Game Pass Owners Could Play Black Ops 6 Early With the NZ Trick—but Steam Users Couldn’t

At the October 25, 2024 launch, yes—but only for the PC Game Pass version installed through the Xbox app/Microsoft Store. Changing Windows’ region to New Zealand could move that version to an earlier regional release window. It did not advance the Steam or Battle.net versions, which used a fixed worldwide unlock time. This was a launch-day timing workaround, not paid early access—and it is not a way to unlock Black Ops 6 early today.

What the New Zealand trick actually did

The “New Zealand trick” was a region-switch workaround used with games whose Microsoft Store or Xbox release was tied to local midnight. By changing Windows’ country or region to New Zealand, players tried to make the Xbox app treat them as being in a location where Black Ops 6 had already released.

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It did not grant ownership, create an early-access entitlement, or bypass the need for an eligible Game Pass subscription. It simply attempted to use the Microsoft platform’s regional rollout. Community reports described it working for PC Game Pass through the Xbox app, although neither Microsoft nor Activision published an official walkthrough or guarantee. Community reports

Which PC versions were affected?

This distinction matters because “the PC version” was not one storefront. A Game Pass entitlement through Microsoft’s PC ecosystem did not unlock a separate Steam installation.

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Why PC Game Pass could launch earlier

Microsoft’s PC Store rollout began at midnight local time in each participating region. The official PC launch window ran from approximately 4 a.m. PT to 11 p.m. PT on October 24, 2024, depending on location. Blizzard’s official PC launch details

New Zealand reached October 25 before the United States, so U.S. players who successfully changed the relevant region settings could sometimes start the Microsoft Store version around the New Zealand midnight release. For comparison, the earliest commonly reported New Zealand timing corresponded to about 4 a.m. PT or 7 a.m. ET on October 24. The exact advantage depended on the player’s U.S. time zone and which official launch time they were comparing.

This was not Activision offering a premium early-access period. It was an earlier regional clock in a staggered rollout. Contemporary coverage also reported that Black Ops 6 did not have a separate full-game early-access period. TechRadar’s release-time coverage

Why the trick did not work on Steam

Steam used a different launch model. Its global unlock was scheduled for 9 p.m. PT on October 24, 2024, which was midnight ET on October 25. Battle.net followed the fixed PC launch timing rather than Microsoft Store’s regional rollout. GameSpot’s launch-time comparison

Steam’s servers—not the clock or country setting on an individual PC—determined when the game became available. Changing Windows’ time zone, country, PC clock, Activision account location, or VPN location therefore did not move Steam’s server-side release timestamp.

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It is more accurate to say that Steam had no relevant regional unlock for the workaround to advance than to claim Steam necessarily “blocked” it. The platform was following a single worldwide schedule.

Which Game Pass plans were eligible?

The relevant Windows option was PC Game Pass. Game Pass Ultimate also included the necessary PC access. Xbox confirmed that Black Ops 6 would launch day one in Game Pass, and Activision listed PC, Console, and Ultimate plans among the eligible Game Pass options. Xbox’s day-one Game Pass announcement and Activision’s Black Ops 6 page

• PC Game Pass: the plan relevant to the Xbox app on Windows.
• Game Pass Ultimate: also provided PC access.
• Game Pass Console: relevant to Xbox consoles, not the PC-specific Xbox app method.
• Steam: not included; Game Pass access did not produce a Steam license.

What needed to be ready before launch

• An active PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
• The Xbox app for Windows, signed into the Microsoft account holding the subscription.
• An Activision account linked to the Xbox/Microsoft account.
• Call of Duty HQ and the Black Ops 6 content fully preloaded.
• A stable internet connection and enough storage.
• Current versions of the Xbox app, Microsoft Store, Call of Duty HQ, and BO6 content.

Activision said preload began on October 21, 2024, at 9 a.m. PT, with Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies available to download in advance for eligible players. Activision’s preload and launch guide

The commonly reported PC Game Pass procedure

Because this was community-discovered rather than an officially supported Activision procedure, the steps below describe what players commonly reported trying at launch. They were not guaranteed to work for every account, region, or installation.

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1. Preload the game through the Xbox app. Confirm the subscription, install the BO6 Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies packages, and open Call of Duty once if necessary to finish setup and account linking.
2. Close Call of Duty and the Xbox app completely. Do not leave the Xbox app running in the background while changing the region.
3. Change Windows’ country or region. In Windows, the reported path was Settings → Time & language → Language & region → Country or region → New Zealand.
4. Optionally change the time zone. Some users also selected a New Zealand/Auckland time zone and then restarted the Xbox app. Other reports said changing only the Windows region was enough.
5. Restart the Xbox app and inspect the countdown. The expected result was a timer aligned with the New Zealand regional launch. If it still showed the original local release time, the store or entitlement had not updated.
6. Launch from the Xbox app. This procedure applied to the Microsoft Store/Xbox app installation—not a separately installed Steam copy.
7. Restore the normal settings afterward. Return Windows to the actual country and time zone, then restart the Xbox app and Microsoft Store.

Did you also need to change the Activision account region?

Community reports disagreed. Some users said changing Windows or Microsoft Store settings was sufficient; others claimed they also changed the Activision account country or region. That makes the Activision change an inconsistent troubleshooting report, not a universal step. Reported user experiences

Do not falsify billing information or enter a fake payment address merely to attempt the workaround. Storefront region changes can affect availability, currency, pricing, payment methods, and account behavior. The available evidence does not establish Microsoft’s or Activision’s current enforcement position, so the method should not be described as officially approved or officially prohibited.

If the game still showed “unavailable”

Check these issues before reinstalling or buying another copy:

1. Verify that you installed the Xbox app/Microsoft Store version, not Steam.
2. Confirm the Xbox app is signed into the Microsoft account with the active subscription.
3. Check that PC Game Pass or Ultimate has not expired.
4. Confirm that BO6 and Call of Duty HQ finished downloading and updating.
5. Restart both the Xbox app and Microsoft Store after changing the region.
6. Verify that Activision account linking and login have completed.
7. Restore your normal region if the storefront starts behaving unexpectedly.
8. If the workaround fails, wait for the official local launch time instead of repeatedly reinstalling.

The countdown changed, but BO6 remained locked

A changed storefront timer was not proof that the account had passed every entitlement check. The game could still validate the Microsoft subscription, platform license, Activision login, required content packages, and online services. Campaign access also required an internet connection at launch, so a successful regional timer change did not eliminate online validation. Launch requirements and timing coverage

You installed both Game Pass and Steam versions

These installations can use different launchers, files, and entitlements. Starting BO6 from Steam will not inherit PC Game Pass access or the Xbox app’s regional countdown. Start the copy associated with the license you actually own.

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Preload size looked unusually large

Activision integrated BO6 into the revised Call of Duty interface. Players who already had Call of Duty installed could see a larger download because the new interface and BO6 content arrived together. Warzone was generally treated as a separate download on most platforms. Activision’s preload explanation

Which platform made sense at launch?

Current status

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launched on October 25, 2024. As of August 2026, the launch window has passed, so the New Zealand trick is a historical explanation of how some PC Game Pass players accessed the game earlier than their local U.S. time. It is not a current method for unlocking BO6 early. For a present-day purchase or subscription decision, compare the official Xbox Game Pass, Steam, and Battle.net offerings rather than relying on an old launch-day region switch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Could PC Game Pass players really play Black Ops 6 early?

At the October 2024 launch, some PC Game Pass users reported accessing the Xbox app/Microsoft Store version earlier by changing Windows’ region to New Zealand. It was an unofficial, non-guaranteed regional timing workaround—not paid early access.

Did the New Zealand trick work on Steam?

No. Steam used a fixed worldwide unlock at 9 p.m. PT on October 24, 2024, or midnight ET on October 25. Changing Windows’ region, time zone, or PC clock did not change Steam’s server-side release time.

Did Game Pass unlock the Steam version?

No. PC Game Pass access applied through Microsoft’s Xbox app and PC Store ecosystem. It did not provide a separate Steam license.

Is the BO6 New Zealand trick still useful in 2026?

No. Black Ops 6 launched on October 25, 2024. The trick was relevant only to that launch window and should not be presented as a current early-unlock method.

The Bottom Line

Bottom line: The NZ trick was potentially useful for the Xbox app/PC Game Pass version because Microsoft used a regional rollout. It could not move Steam or Battle.net, which unlocked globally at a fixed time. Game Pass access, full preload, account linking, and online validation were still required—and the workaround is now historical.

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