Black Ops 3 beta code not working on Xbox One? Pretend you're from Brazil
The Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 beta went live on Xbox One yesterday, but if you're still having problems redeeming your code, you're far from alone. Microsoft acknowledged on the Xbox support site that it's working on the issue which is preventing many players from downloading the beta
We're aware of the issues you might be seeing with your Black Ops 3 beta codes. We're looking into it now: http://t.co/PzAdjUFMJjAugust 26, 2015
We’re tracking an issue regarding #BO3Beta codes. We are currently investigating and will let you know more when we can…stand by.August 25, 2015
Rather than waiting for Microsoft to get its ducks in a row, you could try one oddly simple workaround. According to a bunch of very relieved Reddit users, all you need to do to get your code working is pretend you're from Brazil. Just go to Xbox.com, change your region setting to Brazil in the grey bar at the bottom of the screen, log in, and enter the code like you would for any other game. Here's a direct link to the code redemption page if your Portuguese is a bit rusty. Once the code is in, make sure to change your region back and start downloading the beta to your console.
Don't ask me why simply changing your region seems to get past issues that are still confounding the Microsoft and Activision support teams hours later, but hopefully it gets you boost jumping and wall running while they scramble for a more official solution. The Black Ops 3 PS4 beta got an extra day just for the heck of it, so perhaps Xbox owners will get some catch-up time, too.
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I got a BA in journalism from Central Michigan University - though the best education I received there was from CM Life, its student-run newspaper. Long before that, I started pursuing my degree in video games by bugging my older brother to let me play Zelda on the Super Nintendo. I've previously been a news intern for GameSpot, a news writer for CVG, and now I'm a staff writer here at GamesRadar.