- Valor Mortis New Zealand trick lets players in western regions start playing hours before local release by switching storefront region.
- Release date: Valor Mortis launches October 13, 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
- PC method: Change your Steam store country to New Zealand to unlock the game earlier.
- Console reality: PSN and Xbox region changes are harder, riskier, and often require local payment methods.
- Key caution: No method guarantees play before servers allow it — pre-load ahead so nothing blocks you on launch night.
What Is the Valor Mortis New Zealand Trick?
The Valor Mortis New Zealand trick is the community nickname for a classic early-access workaround: because New Zealand sits in one of the world's earliest time zones, games unlock there first. By changing your digital storefront region to New Zealand, players in North America and Europe can sometimes start playing Valor Mortis up to 12–18 hours before their local midnight release.
With Valor Mortis — the first-person Soulslike set in a plague-ridden alternate Napoleonic Europe from developer One More Level — launching on October 13, 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, interest in the trick is spiking among eager fans who want to be among the first to step into William Dowsett's boots.
Here is how the time zone advantage breaks down:
| Region | Approx. Local Unlock | Hours Ahead of NZ |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (UTC+13) | Oct 13, midnight NZDT | Baseline |
| Australia East (UTC+11) | Oct 13, midnight AEDT | ~2 hours behind NZ |
| Central Europe (UTC+2) | Oct 13, 6 PM CEST | ~5 hours behind NZ |
| UK (UTC+1) | Oct 13, 5 PM BST | ~6 hours behind NZ |
| US East (UTC-4) | Oct 13, noon EDT | ~8 hours behind NZ |
| US West (UTC-7) | Oct 13, 9 AM PDT | ~11 hours behind NZ |
The exact unlock hour depends on whether Valor Mortis uses a midnight local release or a global simultaneous unlock on each platform. Check the official Steam page and Steam announcements shortly before launch, because a simultaneous worldwide unlock would remove the time zone gap entirely.
How the Trick Works on Each Platform
Not every platform treats the New Zealand trick the same way. Some storefronts make region switching painless; others actively lock it behind payment verification. Here is the honest comparison before you commit.
Steam (PC)
- Easiest method for most players
- Requires a NZ payment method or store credit
- Change region in Steam account settings
- Can be reversed after unlock
PlayStation 5
- Requires creating a new NZ PSN account
- NZ store pricing and payment hurdles
- Progress tied to that account
- Not recommended for trophies
Xbox Series X|S
- Console region setting can be changed
- Simplest console option in many cases
- Still subject to store/payment checks
- Game sharing complicates it
Platform Method Comparison
| Platform | Method | Difficulty | Main Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam | Change store country to NZ | Medium | Need NZ billing or wallet funds |
| PS5 | New NZ PSN account | Hard | Separate saves, trophies, purchases |
| Xbox | Change console location | Medium | Payment region mismatch blocks purchase |
| Any | VPN-only approach | High | Storefronts detect VPNs; possible action |
Whatever method you choose, pre-load Valor Mortis before October 13. The download is the single biggest time-waster on launch night, and a completed pre-load means the moment your region unlocks, you are playing within seconds — no trick required.
Step-by-Step: Steam New Zealand Setup
For most players, Steam offers the most practical version of the Valor Mortis New Zealand trick. Follow these steps carefully, and remember that you should only use a region where you genuinely can pay — Valve's policy requires a valid payment method matching your selected country.
Pre-purchase and pre-load first
Buy Valor Mortis on your normal Steam account and complete the pre-load. If the trick fails, you still play at local midnight with everything ready. Never buy the game on a secondary NZ account first — that is the riskiest path.
Check the official unlock schedule
Visit the official Steam announcements page a day or two before launch. If the developer confirms a global simultaneous unlock, the trick gains you nothing and you can skip the rest.
Change your Steam store country
In Steam, go to Account Details, then Update Store Country. Select New Zealand. Steam will typically require a payment method or billing address matching the NZ region, which is the main hurdle for most users.
Restart Steam and check the countdown
Fully restart the Steam client. The Valor Mortis store page countdown should now reflect the New Zealand unlock time. If the timer did not change, the region switch did not apply — revert and try again rather than forcing it.
Play, then switch back
Once the game unlocks and you confirm it runs, you can switch your store country back to your real region after the wait period Steam enforces. Your copy of Valor Mortis remains in your library.
Region switching for early access sits in a gray area of most storefront terms of service. Valve permits store country changes only when you genuinely move or hold valid local payment methods. Misrepresenting your region to exploit pricing can result in account action — treat the time zone benefit as incidental, and never abuse regional prices.
Risks, Rewards, and Common Failure Points
Is the Valor Mortis New Zealand trick actually worth it? For a single-player, buy-to-play Soulslike like Valor Mortis — with roughly 20 hours of main story content — the answer depends on how much those extra hours matter to you.
Reward vs. Risk Assessment
| Factor | Potential Gain | Potential Problem |
|---|---|---|
| Extra playtime | Up to 8–18 hours early | Often just 6–10 hours in practice |
| Story spoilers | Experience plot first | Others may post spoilers before you play |
| Account safety | Usually none if done correctly | Region/payment misuse risks action |
| Save data | PC saves carry normally | Console alt-account saves are stranded |
| Guides timing | Write or use day-one guides early | Day-one patches may change balance |
Common Failure Points
- Payment mismatch: Steam rejects the region change without a valid NZ billing method. This stops most attempts.
- Simultaneous global unlock: If One More Level flips a single worldwide switch, every region starts together and the trick is void.
- Console account mess: A NZ PSN account means separate trophies, friends, and DLC ownership for everything, not just Valor Mortis.
- VPN detection: Storefronts flag mismatched IP/store regions, and free VPNs often fail entirely.
If the setup feels risky, the safest "trick" is simply this: pre-load, sleep early, and play at your own local midnight. You lose a few hours, keep your account clean, and start with day-one patches already installed — often the smoother first session anyway.
Launch Night Preparation Checklist
Whether or not you use the Valor Mortis New Zealand trick, this checklist gets you into the plague-ridden battlefields of Napoleonic Europe with zero friction.
Before October 13, 2026:
- Pre-purchase Valor Mortis on your primary account
- Complete the full pre-load on every platform you own
- Confirm the exact unlock time on the official Steam announcements page
- Decide your approach: NZ trick, normal midnight, or early sleep
- Follow the official Valor Mortis Discord and r/ValorMortis for last-minute news
Valor Mortis arrives October 13, 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S at $39.99. Whether you unlock it via New Zealand time zones or your own local midnight, the first-person swordplay, firearms, and supernatural powers will be waiting.
FAQ
Q: Does the Valor Mortis New Zealand trick work on PC?
It can, if Steam allows you to change your store country to New Zealand, which usually requires a valid NZ payment method. Always pre-load on your real account first, and confirm whether the game uses a midnight local unlock or a simultaneous global unlock on the official Steam announcements page before attempting anything.
Q: Is using the New Zealand trick against the rules?
Region switching itself is supported functionality, but every storefront requires your selected region to match your genuine location or payment methods. Misrepresenting your region, especially to exploit cheaper regional pricing, violates terms of service and can lead to account action. Use it only within platform rules.
Q: Can I use the Valor Mortis New Zealand trick on PS5 or Xbox?
On PS5 it requires creating a separate New Zealand PSN account with its own purchases, saves, and trophies, which most players find not worth it. On Xbox, changing the console's location setting is technically simpler but still subject to store and payment region checks.
Q: What time does Valor Mortis actually unlock on October 13, 2026?
The exact per-platform unlock times should be confirmed on the official Steam page and announcements closer to launch. Midnight local unlocks create the time zone gap that makes the New Zealand trick useful; a global simultaneous unlock would make every region start at the same moment.