There’s something exciting about being the first among your friends to play the latest Xbox games. Whether you’re into first-person shooters, RPGs, survival horror games, or something else entirely, there are a number of different ways you can get your hands on the newest Xbox games before anyone else does, and be the envy of all your friends. So, if you’re wondering how to play games early on Xbox, we’ll explain all.

Change Your Location

Is there a game you really want to play that’s released in another country before it’s available in your region? Not to worry, you can simply change your Xbox location setting and play pre-ordered games a day early. Here’s how to do that:

1. Press the Xbox button on your controller.
2. Go to Settings > System > Language and Location.
3. Under location, change your location to the country where the game has already been released (or will release soon).
4. Select Restart Now to restart your Xbox console.
5. Once your console restarts, you can download your pre-ordered game.

Note: You need to change your location at least one day before the game’s release date, and you must have an active Game Pass membership for this to work. It also may not work for every game.

Join Xbox Insider

Another great way to play games early on Xbox is via the Xbox Insider Program. This free app lets you test out new games, features, and updates before they’re publicly released. Here’s how to install the Xbox Insider app:

1. Press the Xbox button on your controller and navigate to Store.
2. Choose Search, then type “Insider” into the search box.
3. Select Xbox Insider Bundle, then choose Get or Install.
4. The Xbox Insider Hub and Report a Problem apps will be installed on your console.

How to Play Games Early via Xbox Insider

Once you’ve installed the app, here’s how to use it to play games early on your Xbox:

1. Open the app and select Join, then read the terms and conditions and hit Accept to create an account.
2. Choose Previews.
3. Find a game or app that you like the look of and select Join.
4. Read through the Terms and Conditions of participating, then choose Accept.
5. Note that not all games are available to everyone and you’ll be offered games based on your preferences and your Insider level.
6. You can unlock new Xbox Insider levels by earning XP through completing surveys and quests.

Play EA Games Early With an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Subscription

If you want to play EA games before they’ve officially launched, you can join Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to get access to EA Play. Note that this only allows you to play games for a limited time (usually around ten hours) and only applies to selected titles. Once you’ve signed up for Game Pass Ultimate, here’s how to use EA Play to play games early on Xbox, but remember, if you cancel your Game Pass, you’ll lose access:

1. From your Xbox home screen, go to My Games and Apps.
2. Select See All, then scroll down to select See Full Library.
3. Choose EA Games > Game Trials.
4. Select the game you want to play, then choose See in the Microsoft Store.
5. Choose Free Trial with EA Play.
6. Select Install All.

Note: It’s recommended to download the game completely before playing since you only get to play for ten hours.

Try Xbox Game Preview Market

Xbox Game Preview lets you preview and purchase games that are still under development, in exchange for your feedback, which will help improve the game for its release. You can play games early via Xbox Game Preview by purchasing the game and checking the Preview section in the Microsoft Store. Here’s how to do that:

1. Press the Xbox button on your controller and open the Microsoft Store.
2. Go to Search and type in “Game Preview.”
3. You’ll see all the available games, so just choose one and purchase it.

Note: Games available via the Preview Market may contain bugs or be missing certain content or features. However, since you’ve purchased the game, you’ll receive every update released until the game is released commercially. It’s also important to note that there are no guarantees the game you play via the Preview Market will ever be finished.

Are There Any Other Ways to Play Games Early on Xbox?

Generally speaking, you should exercise caution if you’re given a way to play a game early on Xbox that sounds too good to be true. The above methods are all legitimate ways to play games early, so Microsoft is unlikely to ban you from using any of these. With that said, some methods, such as changing your location, may be a violation of the Xbox Live Code of Conduct, depending on the game title in question’s specific rules. Though it’s not illegal to do this, you may still get in trouble.

What Are the Benefits of Playing Games Early on Xbox?

Besides making your friends jealous that you’re playing the latest titles early, what are some of the reasons you might want to play games early on Xbox? You might want to be involved in the early access stage of a game, providing feedback to the developers as a playtester to help the game improve.

In some cases, you can earn exclusive discounts and bonuses for participation, such as character skins or in-game items. Participating in the early-access phase of a game can also help you become part of a loyal community of fans, contributing to the game’s success when it releases commercially. This could be particularly valuable if the game in question is part of a franchise you love.

As you can see, there are a few different ways you can play games early on your Xbox, and you can try one of these or give them all a go. With these methods at hand, you’ll never be bored and looking for something to play on Xbox ever again! Before you go, why not check out how to play Xbox Game Pass games on your PC?