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The release of Dragon’s Dogma 2 is just around the corner, so you’re probably wondering if you can use the New Zealand trick to play early and how to start if you can. We’ve outlined the process here to get you playing ASAP.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is set to launch tomorrow, March 22. Since the drop of Capcom’s viral character creation demo, players have been excited to bring their pre-built Arisen to the full game at launch. Those who have placed their pre-order for the game and started the preload process can hop in to the vast open world and begin their journeys as soon as the game drops at midnight local time or roughly 9pm if you’re on the west coast of the US. That is, if you’d rather not try the New Zealand trick. If you’re looking to start your Dragon’s Dogma 2 playthrough early, though, here’s how to use this trick to do it.
- A Grand Adventure – Dragon’s Dogma 2 begins in a subterranean jail, where the Dragon’s voice echoes in the fog of lost memories.
- Single-Player Cooperation – Up to three mysterious otherworldly beings, known as Pawns, accompany the Arisen throughout their journey.
- Made with RE ENGINE – Capcom’s advanced RE ENGINE produces vividly detailed, high fidelity graphics combined with immersive physics and complex and reactive character AI to create a setting where decisions, and their consequences, come to life.
- Pre-order Bonus: Superior Weapons Quartet
- English (Playback Language)
How to Use the New Zealand Trick to Play Dragon’s Dogma 2 Early
The so-called New Zealand trick has long been used to access new games just a few hours ahead of their scheduled launch. Of course, New Zealand players can’t use this shortcut. However, others planning to play Dragon’s Dogma 2 on Xbox Series X|S or PS5 can execute the trick to get started tonight. Let’s break down how it’s done.
Using the New Zealand Trick on Xbox
If you pre-ordered your copy of Dragon’s Dogma 2 on Xbox Series X|S, follow these steps to play ahead of your time zone’s scheduled launch:
- Open your Settings menu
- Select System from the options listed
- Go to Language & Location
- Set your new location to New Zealand
- Save your changes and restart your system
Using the New Zealand Trick on PlayStation
On PS5, the New Zealand trick isn’t quite as easy to use. In order to play Dragon’s Dogma 2 early with this shortcut, you’ll need to create a new PlayStation account with a different email address. During setup, select New Zealand as your location. If this doesn’t work, you may need to use a VPN to keep your true location hidden.
If successful, you’ll need to purchase Dragon’s Dogma 2 using your new account. To play on other accounts in the future, enable Console Sharing.
Can You Play Dragon’s Dogma 2 Early on PC with the New Zealand Trick?
Unfortunately, the New Zealand trick can’t be used to start Dragon’s Dogma 2 prior to its scheduled release on PC since it’s set to launch at the same time worldwide. The good news is you can hop in at 6pm CT on March 21 to begin your playthrough.
For more on Dragon’s Dogma 2, check out these guides from our team: