Kiryu wearing glasses in Like a Dragon Gaiden

Like a Dragon Gaiden: Does the New Zealand Trick Work?

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is due out later today, but can you use the New Zealand trick to play it even earlier?

The New Zealand trick allows players to access a game much earlier than everyone else by changing their region to New Zealand. This is because if a game has a local release as opposed to a simultaneous global release, then New Zealand will technically get it earlier. However, it doesn’t work for every game, which is why fans are eager to know if it will for Like a Dragon Gaiden. Below, we explain whether or not you can use the New Zealand trick for Like a Dragon Gaiden.

Does the New Zealand Trick Work With Like a Dragon Gaiden?

No, unfortunately, the New Zealand trick will not work with Like a Dragon Gaiden. This is because it has a global release date, meaning it comes out at the same time everywhere. As a result, players in New Zealand won’t gain early access to the game before other countries.

Kiryu tying up Yakuza in Like a Dragon Gaiden

Like a Dragon Gaiden is releasing at 4 am NZDT (New Zealand time) on Thursday, November 9, 2023. That is the same time as 10 am EST / 7 am PST / 3 pm GMT on November 8, which is the game’s official release date and time. Of course, you can still pre-load the game if you’ve pre-ordered a copy, allowing you to jump in as soon as it becomes available. If you’re unsure of whether to pre-order or buy the game at all, you can check out our review here.

In the meantime, make sure to check out our Games Hub for all our other Like a Dragon Gaiden guides. That way, you’ll have a good headstart before heading into the Sotonbori.