How to play Pokémon TCG pocket a month early using the New Zealand trick

Pokémon TCG Pocket is getting an early soft launch in New Zealand on Sept. 26, so anyone looking to play the game over a month early needs to change their mobile device settings.

While it is possible to download the game a month before the official Oct. 30 release on both iOS and Android, it’s a bit of a hassle. Sometimes, you won’t even be able to make any in-app purchases until the game officially launches in your region. So keep that in mind when deciding if you want to play the game a month in advance or if you don’t mind waiting.

How to play Pokémon TCG Pocket on iOS early on using New Zealand trick

To access the New Zealand iOS app store and download Pokémon TCG Pocket early from anywhere else in the world, you need to either create a new Apple ID based in the New Zealand region or change the region of your account to New Zealand.

1. Open the Settings app on your iOS device.
2. Click on your name.
3. Choose Media & Purchases.
4. Select View Account.
5. Click Country/Region.
6. Scroll down until you see New Zealand and select it.
7. Click Change Country or Region
8. Agree to any terms and conditions changes.
9. Select a payment method and enter your new payment information and billing address. You need a New Zealand address for it to work, and you can not insert a payment method, but it can be a bit buggy. 

If you don’t see the New Zealand store when you next sign into the iOS app store, you might need to use a VPN or have done something wrong in the setup process. Setting up a new account is better than changing your current one, but getting to work is a bit of a mess.

How to play Pokémon TCG Pocket on Android early on using New Zealand trick

Android requires a lot of extra steps to work and can be a bit annoying.

First, you must download a VPN that can mask your internet’s IP address as New Zealand. Some devices can identify when someone is using a fake IP address and a VPN, though, so this might not even be possible if you can’t get through the first stage.

You then need to create a new Google account and set it up in New Zealand using the VPN. You will then be asked to verify your account using a New Zealand phone number. Sometimes, Google doesn’t require a phone number, which could lock you out of early access shenanigans.

If you’ve made it this far, you must switch to your new account and try installing your desired application. If you can’t download the app, you must add a New Zealand local payment method to your account—the third big gateway to getting this to work. The option doesn’t include PayPal, so you need a debit or credit card in New Zealand for this to work.

Alternatively, if this sounds like too much work, maybe wait for the file to be available as a pure download outside the Android store. Or better yet, wait for the official release on Oct. 30.