If the wait for Resident Evil Requiem has become genuinely unbearable, you're not alone. Capcom's latest survival-horror entry puts you in control of both Grace Ashcroft and Leon Kennedy, and the excitement surrounding it has been building to a fever pitch. The good news is that depending on your platform, you can actually jump in ahead of your region's official release time using a well-known timezone exploit called the New Zealand trick.
Can't wait to get into the RE Requiem action?
What Is the New Zealand Trick?
The New Zealand trick works by changing your console's region to New Zealand, which sits in one of the world's earliest timezones. Because many games unlock at midnight local time in each region, switching your location to New Zealand means you effectively get access before players in North America, Europe, or Asia. The catch is that this works differently (or not at all) depending on your platform.
How to Play Resident Evil Requiem Early on Xbox Series X|S
Xbox Series X|S is by far the easiest platform for pulling this off. You don't need a second account or any additional purchases. Here's the full process:
- Power on your Xbox Series X|S and sign in to your existing account.
- Navigate to Settings.
- Select the System tab.
- Choose Language and Location.
- Change your location to New Zealand.
- Restart your console when prompted.
- Sign back in to your account.
- Launch Resident Evil Requiem and start playing.
That's genuinely it. No workarounds, no second purchases, no region-locked storefronts to navigate. Your existing game license carries over seamlessly.
tip
Make sure your copy of Resident Evil Requiem is already downloaded before you change the region. This saves you from dealing with any potential storefront quirks mid-process.
Can You Play Resident Evil Requiem Early on PlayStation 5?
This is where things get more complicated. On PlayStation 5, your account region is locked in from the moment you create it, and you can't simply switch it in Settings the way you can on Xbox. To have any chance of accessing Resident Evil Requiem early on PS5, you'd need:
- A separate PlayStation account with New Zealand set as its region.
- A new purchase of the game on that New Zealand account, since PS5 licenses are tied to the region of purchase.
Even then, success isn't guaranteed. The New Zealand trick's effectiveness on PlayStation varies from title to title, and Resident Evil Requiem may not cooperate. If you've already bought the game on your main account, you'd be paying twice for no certainty of reward.
warning
Do not spend money on a second PS5 purchase expecting guaranteed early access. The trick is not confirmed to work on PlayStation 5 for Resident Evil Requiem, and you may simply end up waiting anyway.
PS5 method won't work unfortunately for RE fans
Can You Play Resident Evil Requiem Early on PC?
Short answer: no. Steam uses a global simultaneous release rather than a staggered midnight-by-timezone model. That means every PC player on the planet gets access at the exact same moment, so there's no timezone to exploit and no early entry to be had.
If you're on PC, the only option is to wait for the global unlock.
Steam global release timer for RE Requiem
Can You Play Resident Evil Requiem Early on Nintendo Switch 2?
The Nintendo Switch 2 situation is similar to PS5 in terms of complexity. The region-swap trick itself doesn't apply the same way it does on Xbox, but there is a path forward:
- You'll need a Switch account based in New Zealand.
- You must purchase Resident Evil Requiem on that New Zealand account.
- Once downloaded to your system, you can then load and play the game on your primary account.
If you've already bought the game through your home region's account, you'll be waiting for your local release time rather than purchasing a second copy.
tip
The Switch 2 method requires a one-time setup of a secondary New Zealand account. Once that account has purchased and downloaded the game, your main profile can access it freely on the same console.
Platform Comparison: New Zealand Trick Effectiveness
Grace Ashcroft in Requiem
What's the Best Platform to Try This On?
If you own Resident Evil Requiem on Xbox Series X|S, this is a no-brainer. The process takes under five minutes, costs nothing extra, and is confirmed to work. It's the cleanest early-access method available for any game using this trick.
tip
Once you've finished playing early, remember to switch your Xbox region back to your home country in Settings > System > Language and Location to avoid any storefront display issues going forward.For PS5 and Switch 2 owners, weigh the cost of a second purchase against how badly you want those extra hours. In most cases, the wait is the smarter move unless you have a New Zealand account already set up from a previous game.
PC players, unfortunately, are out of luck entirely on this one.