Monster Hunter Wilds is making its grand entrance on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC this week! But wait, what time can you jump in? Some games go live at midnight local time, giving players in places like New Zealand an early start. Others opt for a simultaneous global release. Monster Hunter Wilds, however, takes a unique approach, it does both depending on whether you’re playing on console or PC. Let’s break down when you can get started!
When Does Monster Hunter Wilds Go Live on PC?
If you’re planning to play on PC, good news! The game goes live at the same moment everywhere across the globe. That means you’ll need to check what time that is for your specific location. Here’s how it breaks down by region:
- USA (Pacific Time) – Thursday, February 27 at 9 pm
- USA (Eastern Time) – Friday, February 28 at 12 am (the night of February 27)
- UK (GMT) – Friday, February 28 at 5 am
- Europe (CET) – Friday, February 28 at 6 am
- South Korea (KST) – Friday, February 28 at 2 pm
- Japan (JST) – Friday, February 28 at 2 pm
- Australia (AEDT) – Friday, February 28 at 4 pm
- New Zealand (NZDT) – Friday, February 28 at 6 pm
The console launch is where things get a bit different! For PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, the game is released mainly at midnight local time. However, there’s a catch for those living on the U.S. West Coast: it kicks off earlier, at 9 PM PST on February 27. This way, everyone gets their turn without one region getting ahead of another.
If you’re anywhere else worldwide, like Europe or Australia, you can jump into action right as midnight local time hits!
The New Zealand Trick: Early Access for Xbox Players!
If you want to play early on your Xbox Series X/S version of Monster Hunter Wilds, here’s a nifty trick! Since it launches simultaneously everywhere else after midnight UTC zones kick in first in New Zealand. If you’ve got friends there, they’re already gaming away!
This method won’t work with PS5, though! But if you’re set up with an Xbox and want to pretend you’re chilling in NZ:
- Nab your controller and head into settings.
- Select the system tab.
- Dive into language & location options.
- Swoop that location setting over to New Zealand.
- You’ll have to restart your console fully.
- Boom! Now, launch from your library.
Your console will think you’re all set up down under and let you play immediately. Just remember to switch back once it’s officially out back home so you can access your regional store again!
