I hit refresh at 00:07 and felt that small, electric ache that comes before a release. You’re on the couch, controller in hand, and the clock says you have to wait. That tiny opening — a time-zone quirk — is all you need to steal a few hours of play.
I watched New Zealand roll into a new day before my city did. How to play Forza Horizon 6 early with the New Zealand trick
I’ll be blunt: this is a console-only move that exploits regional release timing. I’ve tested it on Xbox Series X and Series S; you change the console’s region to New Zealand, reboot, and the system’s clock flips to NZDT. If the Oceanic nation has already crossed midnight, the game becomes playable on your console even if your local time hasn’t reached launch.
- Open your Xbox and go to Settings > System > Language & Location.
- Change Location to New Zealand.
- Optionally set Language to English (New Zealand) or any NZ-compatible language.
- Restart the console when prompted.
When the console boots, it will reflect NZDT. The system treats you as if you’re physically in New Zealand, which is enough to clear the regional timer. I’ve seen this trick work across all retail editions when the local release window is tied to midnight in that region.
Can I play Forza Horizon 6 early on Xbox consoles?
Yes — if you own a standalone copy (a retail or store purchase) and the New Zealand region has passed midnight. This will not reliably work for Game Pass users because the subscription rollout often follows different rollout flags from retail purchases.
I tried the same switch with both Standard and Premium copies. What works and what doesn’t
The New Zealand trick applies to all editions you can buy outright. It does not extend the content of a Standard edition. The game will run, but you won’t gain the early perks that come only with Premium.
Try this if you want a few extra hours before your friends, but don’t expect extra cars, VIP benefits, or bundled DLC unless you actually purchased the edition that includes them.
Does Game Pass let you play early using the region trick?
Short answer: usually no. Game Pass releases are often controlled by Microsoft’s service-side flags rather than your console’s local time. I tested switching regions with a Game Pass account and the title stayed locked until Microsoft flipped the live flag globally for that subscription tier.
I compared system clocks and store listings to figure out why the trick sometimes slips through. Why it works
Stores like the Microsoft Store and the console OS use your console’s region to decide access windows. When you tell the console you’re in New Zealand, the store thinks the NZ launch window has opened. It’s a bit like finding a side door in a locked gallery; you’re not cheating the product, just using a different entrance.
Important: this is a timing quirk, not a hack. It doesn’t bypass licensing or paid content. It borrows the local clock, and that’s all.
I noticed the Premium Edition listed “up to 96 hours” of early access on storefronts. If you want more hours: Premium Edition
If extra hours matter to you, Premium is the product to buy. The Premium Edition grants up to 96 hours of early access, plus VIP membership, a Car Pass, and two extra car packs that add vehicles to your garage on day one. Those bonus cars and perks will not appear just because you changed your console’s region.
Think of the Premium Edition as buying a fast pass rather than sneaking in through a side door.
Platforms and names worth knowing: Xbox (Microsoft Store), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Game Pass, and the NZDT time zone are the main pieces you’ll interact with when you try this.
Short checklist before you flip your region: back up any region-locked content you depend on, make sure your profiles and payments remain set to your home country if you don’t want billing issues, and remember that multiplayer matchmaking is unchanged by region. Are you ready to try the clock trick tonight?