FFXIV Evercold Release Date: Feb 23, Early Access, Price & Zephyr

Final Fantasy XIV: Evercold launches Tuesday, February 23, 2027. Pre-orders open Wednesday, November 4, 2026, and pre-ordering gets you early access starting Friday, February 19, 2027. Square Enix locked the date at the Tokyo Fan Fest keynote, alongside the reveal of the expansion's second new job, Zephyr. If you've been holding a spot in your 2027 calendar for the next big MMO grind, here's what you're signing up for.

Evercold release date, early access and pre-orders

• Release date: Tuesday, February 23, 2027. Nintendo Life reports it had previously been pegged for January 2027.
• Early access: Friday, February 19, 2027, around 1:00 a.m. PST, for anyone who pre-orders.
• Pre-orders open: Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
• Platforms: Windows, Mac, Steam, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2.
• Level cap: raised from 100 to 110.

One catch for new players: Evercold isn't standalone. You need a full copy of FFXIV (not the free trial) and an active subscription. Registering Evercold also gives you Endwalker and Dawntrail.

Price and editions

• Standard Edition: $44.99 (digital)
• Digital Collector's Edition: $64.99, adds a Valhallar Odin mount, the Entreat Crystal emote and a Crystal Skyltborg shield-weapon for Bastions
• Collector's Bundle: $319.99, Square Enix Store only, Windows or Mac version plus the physical Collector's Box (art box, Reaper figure, keychain, Köttr mini plush and a tapestry)

Pre-order bonuses on every edition except the box-only option: a Wind-up Köttr minion, Halone's Earring (+30% EXP from level 1 to 100) and early access.

Zephyr and Bastion: the two new jobs

Evercold adds two jobs. Bastion is the new tank, and Zephyr is a physical ranged DPS that fights with a crossbow and a falcon companion, confirmed by Naoki Yoshida at the Tokyo keynote. Beyond the jobs, Square Enix is promising new cities and zones, new dungeons and trials, a new raid series and a new Ultimate raid. The expansion also brings a Seasons rewards overhaul, an Armoury update and expanded character customization.

The 2nd Shift take

A one-month slip from a January window to late February is the kind of delay nobody should be mad about. Dawntrail's launch story didn't land with everyone, so giving Evercold extra polish time is the right call. Zephyr is also the smartest pick they could have made: physical ranged has been the thinnest role in the game for years, and "crossbow plus a falcon pet" is going to fill queues on day one. The real question is whether Evercold's story wins back players who checked out after Dawntrail. At $44.99, we're cautiously in.

Pre-ordering on November 4 or waiting for reviews? Tell us in the 2nd Shift Discord.

Keep reading: Final Fantasy Resonance release time, price and platforms and our 2026-2027 release date calendar.

Sources: Final Fantasy XIV official site (Evercold product page), FINAL FANTASY XIV on X, Nintendo Life, DualShockers via OpenCritic, Worthplaying.