Eager football gamers have discovered a classic workaround to get their hands on EA FC 26 nearly a full day before its official global launch. The infamous 'New Zealand trick' is back, allowing players to kick off their ultimate team journey early by simply changing their console's region settings.
What Is The New Zealand Trick?
The method capitalises on the global rollout of digital game releases. Because New Zealand is one of the first major territories to enter a new calendar day, the game becomes available on the Xbox and PlayStation digital stores there long before it does in the UK or US.
By switching their console's location to New Zealand, players can trick the store into thinking they are based there, granting immediate access to the game as soon as it goes live in that region.
How To Access EA FC 26 Early
Thankfully, performing the New Zealand trick is a straightforward process for most players:
- On Xbox: Navigate to your console's settings system. Select Language & location, change your location to New Zealand, and restart your console.
- On PlayStation 5: You will need to create a brand new PSN account. During setup, set New Zealand as your region. Once created, you can play the game from this new profile.
It is crucial to note that while this workaround is widely used and not considered illegal, it does exist in a grey area. Players should be aware that they are technically violating the platform's terms of service, though punitive action is exceedingly rare.
A Well-Established Gaming Tradition
This clever loophole has become an annual ritual for the dedicated FIFA and EA Sports FC community. It provides a significant head start, allowing players to begin building their squads, earning coins, and getting a feel for the new gameplay mechanics before the competition.
The official global release date for EA FC 26 is still expected to be Friday, 27th September 2024. However, by using this method, players in earlier time zones could be scoring their first goals by the evening of Thursday, 26th September.
