To play Pokémon ZA early, a common method involves creating a Nintendo account set to a region (such as New Zealand or Australia) where the game releases earlier. Then, using a VPN to connect through that region allows downloading and playing the game early on a Nintendo Switch. This process often requires:

• Setting up a new Nintendo account with an email not previously used.
• Downloading and installing a VPN (e.g., Tunnel Bear) to connect through New Zealand or Australia.
• Using the region-set Nintendo account combined with the VPN connection to access and download Pokémon ZA before the official regional release.
• This procedure works for other Nintendo Switch games and requires careful steps with VPNs and account setup to avoid issues.

There are also other legal ways to play the game slightly early by adjusting release time zones or using early release times based on location, especially for countries ahead in time zones like New Zealand, Australia, and Japan.

In summary, using a region-specific Nintendo account and VPN for game early access is the main method shared for playing Pokémon ZA early.