Key points
- Evercold releases Tuesday, February 23, 2027, with early access from Friday, February 19, 2027 (9:00 AM GMT). It was announced at Fan Festival 2026 in Tokyo, October 31–November 1.
- It is a delay: Evercold was previously placed in a January 2027 window. Producer and director Naoki Yoshida apologised, saying the team needed roughly three more weeks to meet its quality bar.
- The new jobs are Bastion, a tank — the first new job revealed — and Zephyr, a physical ranged DPS fighting with a crossbow and an avian familiar named Nephele.
- Evercold is expansion 8.0, the sixth expansion. Square Enix said at the Fan Fest keynote that Final Fantasy XIV has passed 35 million registered accounts globally.
- Also revealed: an Evangelion crossover alliance raid, “Ghosts of Desire,” plus new high-difficulty 8-player battles; Patch 8.1 brings expanded housing, PvP updates and a revamped companion chocobo system.
February 23 — after a three-week delay
This one is a week old, and it is worth saying so plainly: Square Enix announced it last weekend, October 31 to November 1, at Fan Festival 2026 in Tokyo. Final Fantasy XIV: Evercold releases Tuesday, February 23, 2027, with early access from Friday, February 19, 2027 (9:00 AM GMT) for players who pre-order.
It is a delay: Evercold was previously placed in a January 2027 window. Producer and director Naoki Yoshida apologised on stage, saying the team needed roughly three more weeks to meet its quality bar. Evercold is expansion 8.0, the sixth expansion, and Square Enix said at the Fan Fest keynote that the game has passed 35 million registered accounts globally.
Bastion and Zephyr
Tokyo also completed the new-job pair. Bastion, revealed earlier this year, is the tank — the first new job announced for Evercold. Joining it is Zephyr, a physical ranged DPS who fights with a crossbow alongside Nephele, an avian familiar that supports it in battle. Zephyr joins Bard, Machinist and Dancer as the game’s fourth physical ranged job. Both new jobs start at level 90, and Zephyr’s introductory quest starts in Gridania.
What else the keynote revealed
The rest of the keynote was a list of things to watch rather than things to play yet. An Evangelion crossover alliance raid, “Ghosts of Desire,” is coming, alongside new high-difficulty 8-player battles. Patch 8.1 brings expanded housing, PvP updates and a revamped companion chocobo system. Also revealed, and not launch content: a Final Fantasy VII Remake crossover raid series, “Beyond the Lifestream,” a new Fierce raid difficulty, and an Evercold benchmark planned for December.
What it means for buyers
Nothing to buy yet: the expansion is more than three months out, and the benchmark lands in December if you want to test your PC first. When listings for Evercold do appear, check that they name the expansion and the right platform — and check the date on them, since the February 23 date replaced the old January window and older listings may still carry it. See the Final Fantasy XIV page for the verified sellers listed there.
Sources
- Dot Esports: FFXIV Tokyo Fan Fest 2026: Evercold release date, Zephyr, moreNov 2026
- DualShockers: 10 Biggest Reveals From Final Fantasy 14’s Tokyo FanfestNov 2026
- Shadow’s Gaming: FFXIV Evercold Preorders, Collector’s Box Rewards & Early AccessNov 4, 2026
We report from official announcements first and name the outlet when a detail comes from one report. Found an error? Tell us, and see our editorial policy.
