Shadow Of The Erdtree New Zealand Trick - The Real Story

25 Jun, 2025

For many who love games, getting to play a highly anticipated new release just a little bit early feels like finding a hidden treasure. It's a feeling of pure excitement, you know, like getting a sneak peek before anyone else. This eagerness often leads players to try out clever little methods, like the well-known "New Zealand trick," hoping to jump into the action a few hours ahead of the official launch time in their own part of the world. It's a common thing for folks who are just really, really keen to get started on something big, and for a good reason, too.

Players have, over time, found out that certain games, especially on specific consoles, can sometimes be played a bit sooner if you adjust your system's location settings. This is typically because New Zealand, being one of the first places to hit midnight in a new day, often gets access to games before other regions further west. It's a simple, clever idea that has worked for a bunch of titles in the past, letting dedicated fans get a head start on their adventures, which is pretty cool, actually.

But when it comes to the incredibly awaited "Shadow of the Erdtree" expansion for Elden Ring, there's a bit of a twist. While the idea of playing early is certainly tempting, and many fans are wondering if this old method will hold up, the truth about this particular launch is a little different. It seems that for this release, the usual approach might not give you the head start you're hoping for, so that's something to keep in mind.

What is the New Zealand Trick for Shadow of the Erdtree?
Why Do Players Use the New Zealand Trick for Shadow of the Erdtree?
Will the New Zealand Trick Work for Shadow of the Erdtree?
The Simultaneous Launch and Shadow of the Erdtree Trick
Console Specifics and the Shadow of the Erdtree Trick
How to Prepare for Shadow of the Erdtree Without the Trick
The Joy of Discovery in Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree
What to Do When the Shadow of the Erdtree Trick Doesn't Work?

What is the New Zealand Trick for Shadow of the Erdtree?

The "New Zealand trick" is, in essence, a way some people try to get a jump on playing certain video games. It works like this: you go into your game console's settings, whether it's an Xbox or something similar, and you change your system's location to New Zealand. The idea behind this, you know, is pretty simple. Since New Zealand is one of the first places on the globe to experience a new day, setting your console there can, for some games, make the system think it's already midnight in that time zone. This can then, in turn, make the game available to play a few hours, or even a full day, before it officially releases in other parts of the world, like the United States or Europe. It's a common method, actually, for those who just can't wait.

For many games, this little adjustment has been a reliable way to start playing early. People who are really into their gaming often keep an eye out for this kind of opportunity. It's a pretty straightforward process, usually just involving a few clicks through the console's menu options. You might just go to your system settings, find the part where you set your region or location, and then pick New Zealand from the list. After that, you'd typically restart your console, and if the trick is going to work for that particular game, you'd then be able to launch it. It's a simple, yet often effective, method for getting a head start, so to speak, on new releases.

Why Do Players Use the New Zealand Trick for Shadow of the Erdtree?

Players use this method for a very simple reason: they are just really excited to play. When a game like "Shadow of the Erdtree" comes out, which is a big expansion for something as beloved as Elden Ring, the desire to experience it as soon as possible is very strong. It's like waiting for a favorite movie or a big concert; you want to be there right when it starts. This eagerness often pushes people to try any method they can find to get a few extra hours of playtime. It's a common feeling, that, among people who spend a lot of time with their favorite virtual worlds.

Think about it: for someone who has spent, say, 500 hours playing Elden Ring across several different playthroughs, the thought of new content is incredibly appealing. That kind of dedication means they've likely seen almost everything the original game has to offer, yet still find new things, which is pretty amazing. So, when a new part of that world is about to open up, the anticipation builds quite a lot. The New Zealand trick offers a glimmer of hope that they can get back into that world just a little bit sooner. It's a way to satisfy that intense desire to explore and discover what's next, almost immediately, you know?

Will the New Zealand Trick Work for Shadow of the Erdtree?

This is the big question many Elden Ring fans are asking, especially with "Shadow of the Erdtree" on the horizon. For a lot of past game releases, setting your console's location to New Zealand has been a reliable way to play early. People have gotten used to this little shortcut, and it's become a standard practice for many who want to be among the first to jump into a new digital adventure. So, it's pretty natural for folks to wonder if this same approach will be effective for this particular expansion, which is something many are looking forward to, very much.

However, when it comes to "Shadow of the Erdtree," the information available suggests a different situation. It appears that this expansion is set for what's called a "simultaneous launch" across the world. What this means, essentially, is that everyone, no matter where they live, will get access to the game at the exact same moment, adjusted for their local time. So, if it's midnight in New Zealand when the game goes live, it will also be, say, 6 PM the day before on the East Coast of the US, and everyone will get it then. This kind of launch schedule tends to make the New Zealand trick, or any time zone trick, not work for early access. It's a bit of a bummer for those hoping to get a head start, you know, but that's how it seems to be planned.

The Simultaneous Launch and Shadow of the Erdtree Trick

A simultaneous launch changes the whole picture for getting early access. Normally, games might release at midnight in each region, meaning New Zealand gets it first, then Australia, then Japan, and so on, moving across the globe. This is what makes the New Zealand trick effective for many games. But with a simultaneous release, the developers set one specific global time for the game to become available to everyone. So, if that time is, for example, 10 AM UTC, then it will be 10 AM UTC for everyone, regardless of their local time zone. This means New Zealand will get it at their local time when 10 AM UTC hits, and someone on the US East Coast will also get it at their local time when 10 AM UTC hits. There's no time zone to jump ahead of, which is a bit different, actually.

Because of this global, unified release time, changing your console's region to New Zealand won't make the game appear any sooner on your system. Your console will still be waiting for that one global moment to arrive. It's a system that ensures fairness for all players, preventing anyone from getting a significant head start just by adjusting their settings. This is why, for "Shadow of the Erdtree," the usual early access method involving region changes simply won't work. It's a different kind of release plan, so, the old methods don't apply, which is just how it is sometimes.

Console Specifics and the Shadow of the Erdtree Trick

It's true that the New Zealand trick has, historically, been more consistently effective on certain consoles, particularly Xbox. Many players who own an Xbox have gotten used to making this quick change in their settings to play games a day early. This has been a popular little secret among the community for quite some time, and it's pretty reliable for titles that follow the rolling midnight release schedule. So, for those who are on Xbox and have used this method many times before, it's completely understandable why they would think it would work again for "Shadow of the Erdtree." It's almost a habit for some, you know?

However, the nature of the "Shadow of the Erdtree" launch, being a simultaneous worldwide release, means that the console you're using doesn't really change the outcome. Whether you're on an Xbox, a PlayStation, or a PC, the game will become available at the same universal moment. This means that even if your Xbox is set to New Zealand, it won't unlock the game before the global release time. The trick relies on time zones opening up content, but if the content opens up everywhere at once, there's no time zone to get ahead of. So, while your Xbox might still think it's a local New Zealand time, the game's release isn't tied to that local midnight, which is a key difference, in a way.

How to Prepare for Shadow of the Erdtree Without the Trick

Since the New Zealand trick isn't going to give you an early pass to "Shadow of the Erdtree," the best way to get ready is to focus on the official release plan. One smart thing to do is to download the expansion in advance. Many games allow for a "pre-load" period, where you can download all the necessary files before the actual launch time. This means that when the global release moment finally arrives, your game will be ready to go immediately, without you having to wait for a large download. It's a good way to make sure you can jump in the second it's available, which is pretty helpful.

Keeping an eye on the official release date and time for your specific region is also a good idea. Even with a simultaneous global launch, the time will translate differently depending on where you are. For example, if you're on the East Coast in the US, the global release time will correspond to a specific hour in your evening. Knowing this exact moment means you can be prepared, perhaps by having your favorite snacks ready and your console warmed up. It's all about making sure you're set up for a smooth start to your new adventure, which is what everyone wants, naturally.

The Joy of Discovery in Elden Ring and Shadow of the Erdtree

One of the most amazing things about Elden Ring, and something that will surely carry over into "Shadow of the Erdtree," is the constant feeling of finding something new. Even after playing for roughly 500 hours across five different playthroughs, it's still possible to discover things you haven't seen before. This sense of endless discovery, of stumbling upon a hidden path, a new item, or a secret bit of story, is a huge part of what makes the game so special. It's a very rewarding experience, that, when you realize there's always more to uncover, which is pretty cool.

This expansion promises to add even more layers to that experience. Players will be looking for all sorts of things: new weapons to try out, more sites of grace to find for resting spots, scadutree fragments to collect, revered spirit ashes to summon, interesting non-player characters to meet, and fresh armor sets to wear. The thrill isn't just in beating bosses, but in the journey itself, in piecing together the world's story and finding every little secret it holds. So, even if you can't play early, the sheer amount of new content means there will be plenty of fresh discoveries waiting for everyone, which is the main thing, really.

What to Do When the Shadow of the Erdtree Trick Doesn't Work?

When a common method like the New Zealand trick doesn't pan out for a highly anticipated release, it can feel a little disappointing. You might have had your hopes up, thinking you'd get a few extra hours with "Shadow of the Erdtree." But since this particular launch is simultaneous across the globe, that early access just isn't happening through that method. So, instead of trying to force something that won't work, it's a good idea to shift your focus to the confirmed release time. This means checking what time the game goes live in your specific area and making sure your console is ready for that moment, which is the practical way to go about it, you know.

The best approach is to ensure your game is pre-loaded and updated, so when the official time arrives, you can simply hit play. For console players, this often means the game will become available at midnight local time. If you're on the East Coast in the US, for example, and the game drops at midnight in your time zone, you'll be among the first in your region to experience it. While the New Zealand trick might not work for "Shadow of the Erdtree," there's still plenty of excitement to be had right at the official launch. It's about being prepared for that moment, which is what really matters, at the end of the day.

Shadow the Hedgehog | SonicWiki | Fandom powered by Wikia

Details

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Needs Life Or Death Stakes For Its Characters

Details

ArtStation - Shadow - Sonic The Hedgehog | Resources

Details

Detail Author:

Name : Fred Gerlach
Username : wfranecki
Email : frowe@gmail.com
Birthdate : 1981-10-20
Address : 5454 Kerluke Haven Mistybury, SC 99972
Phone : 1-559-974-8913
Company : Parker, Zieme and Koss
Job : Biologist
Bio : Corrupti eum quidem reiciendis voluptatem ut modi consequatur. Ut saepe reprehenderit libero omnis. Explicabo velit sed nobis quisquam.

Socials

instagram:

url : https://instagram.com/hjones
username : hjones
bio : Non qui et corporis libero accusantium. Quam voluptatum inventore pariatur.
followers : 3159
following : 2445

tiktok:

url : https://tiktok.com/@herminia.jones
username : herminia.jones
bio : Officiis omnis vero inventore error eum dicta ea sit.
followers : 3087
following : 1343

linkedin:

url : https://linkedin.com/in/herminiajones
username : herminiajones
bio : Officia non vitae enim at omnis et repellendus.
followers : 5660
following : 1975

facebook:

url : https://facebook.com/herminia_jones
username : herminia_jones
bio : Et ea ut aut vel. Nulla optio voluptatem fugiat quis aut non veniam.
followers : 983
following : 605

twitter:

url : https://twitter.com/herminia.jones
username : herminia.jones
bio : Nostrum optio est nam quae. Ducimus perspiciatis aut omnis ipsam voluptate aut. Eos nisi quas delectus voluptatum harum. Voluptatum voluptas odio quo iure.
followers : 4896
following : 1179