Evercold launches February 23 with preorders opening November 4 and eligible players receiving early access from February 19.
New jobs Zephyr and Bastion use Evolved combat, while the expansion raises the level cap to 110 and introduces the Fourth reflection.
US editions start at $44.99 and require a paid Final Fantasy XIV account and subscription, while the standalone Collector’s Box contains no game license.
Final Fantasy XIV: Evercold will launch on February 23, 2027, Square Enix has announced. Preorders open November 4, with early access scheduled to begin February 19 for eligible players, giving the MMO’s next expansion a firm set of dates alongside its newly revealed Zephyr job.
The official Lodestone announcement accompanies the full trailer and updated expansion pages. Evercold takes players to the Fourth reflection, a world facing encroaching ice, and raises the level cap from 100 to 110.
Zephyr Joins Bastion as a New Job
Square Enix’s job preview identifies Zephyr as a physical ranged damage dealer using a crossbow and an avian familiar. The other new job, Bastion, fills a tank role and carries a Skyltborg, a greatshield equipped with aetherial artillery.
Both jobs use the expansion’s Evolved combat mode. Existing jobs will be able to choose between Reborn and Evolved approaches, apart from limited jobs; the two newcomers are designed for Evolved rather than receiving a separate Reborn version. Players choosing a new role should keep that distinction in mind instead of expecting every job to offer identical mode options.
Reborn retains the established combat approach, while Evolved puts greater emphasis on individual job identity. The preview establishes the roles and broad direction, but it is not a substitute for final tooltips or hands-on balance testing. A reveal trailer cannot show how either job will perform across the complete expansion.
A Frozen Reflection and New Raid Plans
The expansion site introduces cities including Fargarth and Hjartadunur, alongside giant realmships associated with water, fire, earth and wind. The Fourth is a different setting for the next chapter, with its freezing world providing the immediate backdrop to the journey.
Evercold’s announced raid plans include Beyond the Lifestream and the alliance raid series Evangelion: Ghosts of Desire. A new Fierce difficulty for eight players is positioned between Normal and Savage, offering another step for groups that want more demanding encounters without moving directly to Savage.
Square Enix is also introducing a Seasons framework for equipment progression. Some features shown on the site belong to the wider 8.x update series, so the complete roadmap should not be treated as a list of activities all opening on February 23. The publisher notes that development plans remain subject to change.
For returning players, the practical distinction is between buying the expansion’s content and receiving broader game updates. Square Enix says some gameplay changes will not require an Evercold purchase. That does not remove the expansion’s own access requirements or make the paid MMO’s subscription optional.
Preorders, Prices and Early Access Requirements
The US product page lists the Standard Edition at $44.99 and the Digital Collector’s Edition at $64.99. Evercold is an expansion rather than a standalone replacement for the base game: players need a paid Final Fantasy XIV account and the required subscription. Registering it also grants access to Endwalker and Dawntrail.
Early access is scheduled for February 19 at 1 AM Pacific Standard Time, or 09:00 UTC. It requires Dawntrail registration and completion of the relevant quests as well as the qualifying preorder. Simply placing an order will not bypass unfinished story requirements on an account that has not reached the expansion.
Preorder bonuses include the Wind-up Köttr minion and Halone’s Earring, which grants a 30% experience bonus from levels 1 through 100. The physical Collector’s Box needs particular care: Square Enix lists it at $255 without a game license, in-game items or preorder bonuses. Buyers should compare the contents of the box and bundles before assuming that a physical purchase includes expansion access.
