The expansion launches on February 23, 2027. In addition to the feathered archer, pre-orders—which include an XP earring and early access—begin on November 4.
The next expansion for Final Fantasy 14, Evercold, will be released on February 23, 2027. The second new job is the Zephyr—a physical ranged DPS that enters battle armed with a crossbow and a bird.
Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida unveiled the job during the opening keynote of the 2026 Final Fantasy 14 Fan Festival in Tokyo. The Zephyr combines crossbow shots with the support of a winged companion named Nephele. It joins the Bastion, a tank wielding a large shield, which the team had already introduced earlier this year at the Fan Festival in Berlin as the first new job for Evercold.
Early Access, Physical Goodies, and EXP Boost: An Overview of the Editions
Pre-orders for Evercold and the previously announced Collector’s Box begin on Wednesday, November 4, at 10:00 a.m. our time. Those who pre-order will secure Early Access as well as the Minion Wind-Up Köttr and Halone’s Earring. This earring grants you 30 percent more experience points from defeated enemies. The in-game items will be delivered to your in-game mailbox immediately after pre-ordering. So you can put the earring to great use to level up your jobs even before Evercold’s release.
The Collector’s Box contains only physical goodies. The game itself, in-game items, or pre-order bonuses are not included. Instead, you’ll receive an art box featuring an Evercold illustration by Yoshitaka Amano, a Warrior of Light figurine as a Reaper, a metal Ethos keychain, a Köttr mini plush toy, and a Tapestry of the Fourth.
The Square Enix Store also offers a limited-edition Collector’s Bundle. This bundle includes the physical box along with a code for the Digital Collector’s Edition (for Windows or Mac). Players on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, or Steam can purchase the physical box separately and pre-order the Digital Collector’s Edition on its own. The digital edition also includes the Valhallar Odin mount, the Entreat Crystal emote, and the Crystal Skyltborg weapon for the Bastion.
Fierce Raids, Crossover Bosses, and Evolved Combat Mode
Square Enix also used the keynote to announce a new raid difficulty level called “Fierce.” This falls exactly between “Normal” and “Savage.” In addition, the team showed a new trailer for the Alliance Raid crossover *Evangelion: Ghosts of Desire* and teased tougher eight-player battles against some of the bosses featured there. The presentation was rounded out with new artwork by Tetsuya Nomura for *Beyond the Lifestream*, a raid series in collaboration with the *Final Fantasy 7 Remake* series.
You can also look forward to the Evolved Combat Mode. According to Square Enix, this mode is designed to emphasize the unique identity of each job even more. In addition, there will be Seasons—a new system that revolutionizes the distribution of item rewards—as well as expanded character creation with new Character Action Skins. Patch 8.1 will also bring expanded housing features, PvP updates, and a completely revamped Companion Chocobo system.
35 Million Accounts: The Success Story Continues
Final Fantasy 14 now has more than 35 million registered accounts.
You can watch the full keynote on Twitch. You can also find more information on the official Evercold website.
