To play NBA 2K24 early, use the "New Zealand time zone trick," which exploits the game's region-based release time.
How to play NBA 2K24 early on Xbox:
- Make sure the game is pre-installed on your Xbox.
- Go to Settings > System > Language and Location.
- Change your location to New Zealand (language can remain English).
- Restart your console.
- After this, NBA 2K24 will unlock at midnight New Zealand time, which corresponds to several hours earlier in your time zone (for example, 8 a.m. ET instead of midnight ET).
- After playing, you can switch your location back to your original region.
How to play NBA 2K24 early on PlayStation:
- The method is less straightforward.
- You need to create a new PSN account set to the New Zealand region.
- Buy the game digitally through this New Zealand account.
- Log into this account on your PlayStation to play early.
- This means you'll have two accounts on your console, and VC (in-game currency) or MT purchases for your main account won't carry over.
Notes:
- This method doesn't provide early access from pre-order perks but leverages the time zone difference.
- The trick has been confirmed working for NBA 2K24 players.
- Xbox makes the switch easier with a simple location change; PlayStation requires account setup.
- The New Zealand release happens several hours before other global regions due to time zone differences, allowing earlier access.
This method has been used for a long time by gamers to access region-locked launches sooner.
