FFXIV Evercold Delayed to February 23, 2027: Early Access and Pre-Order Dates
Update: November 2, 2026. Announced at the Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival in Japan on October 31.
Final Fantasy XIV: Evercold has been delayed by about four weeks. Square Enix says the expansion now launches on February 23, 2027, with early access starting February 19, 2027 for players who pre-order. Pre-orders open on November 4, 2026.
The new date was announced by producer and director Naoki Yoshida at the Japan Fan Festival keynote, alongside the full opening cinematic and a first proper look at the expansion’s second new job, the Zephyr.
Evercold key dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Pre-orders open | November 4, 2026 |
| Benchmark | Early December 2026 |
| Early access (pre-order) | February 19, 2027 |
| Full release | February 23, 2027 |
| Original window | January 2027 |
Why the delay matters
The slip is short, but it moves Evercold out of January and into a crowded February release window. Reports from Massively Overpowered and IGN note that more letters from the producer are planned before launch, covering rewards and new systems in more detail.
Pre-order bonuses
According to IGN, pre-orders include:
- Wind-up Kottr minion
- Halone’s Earring, which boosts EXP for jobs under level 100
The collector’s edition adds the Valhallar Odin mount, the Entreat Crystal emote and the Crystal Skyltborg. The physical collector’s bundle also includes an art book, a tapestry decoration, a Kottr plush, a keychain and a Warrior of Light Reaper figure.
New job: Zephyr
The second new job is the Zephyr, a ranged DPS that uses a crossbow and fights alongside a bird companion called a Nephele. Massively Overpowered reports that it starts in Gridania at level 90 and plays as a true pet job. It joins Bastion, the new tank job revealed earlier.
Other changes announced
- A new weekly activity system for earning gear, with catch-up if you miss a week
- Two gear tracks: Seasonal (activity-based) and Raid (savage)
- A new middle raid difficulty called Fierce
- Alliance raids split into two halves you can queue for separately
- Gauntlet of Power, a boss rush mode that keeps your actual level
- Neon Genesis Evangelion and Final Fantasy VII crossover raid series
Separately, North American and European players move to region-wide duty matching on November 10, 2026, which requires 24-hour maintenance.
What to do now
If you play on PlayStation and still use a PS4, now is a good time to plan your move. See our guide on transferring data from PS4 to PS5, and if space is tight, check how to free up PS5 storage before the expansion download. For other games arriving this month, see our PS Plus November 2026 lineup.
FAQ
When does FFXIV Evercold release?
February 23, 2027. Early access starts February 19, 2027 for pre-orders.
Why was Evercold delayed?
Square Enix announced a short delay of about four weeks at Fan Fest. Reports say the team tried to ship at the end of January but needed more time.
When can I pre-order Evercold?
Pre-orders open November 4, 2026.
What is the new FFXIV job in Evercold?
Zephyr, a crossbow ranged DPS with a bird companion. Bastion is the other new job, a tank.
Sources: IGN, Massively Overpowered, MMORPG.com.