If you’re aiming to play Black Ops 7 (BO7) a bit earlier, the most common method discussed online is the so-called “New Zealand trick.” This involves changing certain location/time settings to New Zealand so that your game’s release time appears earlier. Here’s a concise guide to what most players report, along with practical checks and caveats. What the NZ trick typically involves

• Change your in-app regional/physical location to New Zealand in your Activision/Call of Duty profile settings.
• Adjust your device or PC’s date, time, and/or time zone to reflect New Zealand time (NZST/NZDT depending on date).
• On some platforms, you may also need to adjust the platform-specific region or location settings (for example, console language/location or store region) and ensure the game files are up to date.
• After applying the changes, launch BO7 and you should see the game unlock or become playable earlier according to NZ time.

Platform-specific notes (high level)

• PC: Often involves changing your system time zone to Auckland/Wellington and restarting the game client, sometimes after updating your Activision/Blizzard profile region.
• Consoles (PS, Xbox): Typically require setting your console region/location to New Zealand and ensuring the in-game launch times reflect the NZ timezone.
• Cross-check: Some guides emphasize also updating the Activision account region to align with the NZ setting, not just the device timezone.

What to watch out for

• Violation risk: Using regional tricks to bypass official release times may violate terms of service for some platforms or services. It can lead to account or service access issues, so proceed with caution.
• Sync issues: The NZ method relies on accurate synchronization between your account region, platform settings, and game server timers. If any piece is out of sync, you may still face delayed access or unexpected unlock times.
• Content and updates: Even with an earlier unlock, you may encounter day-one patches, queues, or server load that affect early access and online play stability.

Alternatives and safer options

• Preload and notifications: Some regions offer earlier or later access depending on platform, and preloading the game files ahead of time (where supported) can reduce waiting once the official time hits.
• Official announcements: Following the publisher’s channels for exact global release times and any region-based exceptions can help you plan without attempting workarounds.
• Local time conversion: If you just want to know when you can play in your time zone, convert NZ release times to your local time using a reliable world clock or time zone converter.

If you’d like, I can pull the latest official release times and platform- specific steps from trusted sources to tailor the guidance to your exact platform and region.