Final Fantasy XIV: Evercold arrives on 23 February 2027 – new Zephyr job
Square Enix named the date for its next expansion at the Fan Festival in Tokyo: it arrives about four weeks later than planned. Pre-orders open on 4 November.
Archive image · Photo: Yves Tennevin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)
The next expansion for online role-playing game Final Fantasy XIV now has a firm date: Evercold launches on 23 February 2027, with early access from 19 February for those who pre-order. Square Enix announced this on 30 October during the keynote of the Fan Festival 2026 in Tokyo. The expansion had originally been targeted for January 2027, so it slips by about four weeks. Pre-orders open on Wednesday, 4 November, in Standard Edition, Digital Collector's Edition, Collector's Bundle and Collector's Box versions. According to Shacknews, it will launch on all of the game's platforms, including Switch 2.
Newly revealed was the Zephyr job: a ranged fighter with a crossbow, supported by an avian companion. It starts at level 90 and joins the previously announced Bastion tank job. Both are tied to the new Evolved battle mode; players will be able to choose between the existing combat system and the new one.
The level cap rises from 100 to 110. Locations include huge 'Realmships' and the cities of Fargarth and Hjartadunur. There will also be a new raid series, an Evangelion-themed alliance raid, a new eight-player 'Fierce' difficulty and a new Ultimate raid. The new battle system, PvP changes and housing updates in patch 8.0 will be available to all players, even without buying the expansion.