Can you access The Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion Remastered early using the New Zealand trick?

If you’re a die-hard Elder Scrolls fan, you’re probably already counting down the seconds to the release of The Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion Remastered . But here’s the million-gold question floating around the community right now — can you use the classic “New Zealand trick” to play it early?


What Is the New Zealand Trick ?If you’ve ever wanted to play a game early on release day, you’ve probably heard of this trick. The “New Zealand trick” is a method that involves changing your console or PC's location to New Zealand — the first country to roll into a new calendar day due to time zones.

Because games tied to global digital launches often unlock based on the region’s local time, New Zealand players sometimes get access to games up to 18 hours before others. Players in the U.S., UK, or Europe often change their region to New Zealand to piggyback on this early access window.

It’s totally legal, easy to do, and has been a long-time favorite move for gamers looking to jump in early.
Can It Work for Oblivion Remastered?Short answer: It depends on how Bethesda handles the launch.

• If Oblivion Remastered gets a global digital launch based on local timezones, then yes — you might be able to use the New Zealand trick to jump in early.
• But if it launches at a fixed global time (say, April 21 at 12 PM EST), then changing your region won’t help. The game will unlock for everyone at the exact same moment, no matter where you are in the world.

Right now, there’s strong speculation that the game might shadow drop soon, possibly as early as April 21. But whether it's a timed unlock or a rolling launch hasn’t been confirmed yet.


Is the Trick Worth Trying?Honestly, yes — if you're playing on Xbox or PC via Game Pass, switching your region to New Zealand is quick and safe. Worst-case scenario, it doesn’t work and you just wait like everyone else. Best-case? You're strolling through the Imperial City before your friends even finish their coffee.

Just remember to switch your region back after the game unlocks. It can affect things like store currency, local apps, and services.
Final ThoughtsWith all the excitement (and rumors) swirling around Oblivion Remastered, it’s hard to sit still. Whether Bethesda lets us sneak in through a time zone loophole or holds the line with a synchronized drop, one thing's clear — Tamriel is calling again, and it's going to look better than ever.