FFXIV Evercold Release Date Moves to Feb 23, 2027: Preorders

By GameDrop Staff · Nov 01, 2026 · Releases · 2 min read

Final Fantasy XIV Evercold key art showing the Warrior of Light party in snow — Image: Square Enix

Square Enix has pushed Final Fantasy XIV: Evercold, the game's sixth expansion, from January 2027 to February 23, 2027. The new date was announced at FFXIV Fan Fest in Tokyo alongside the full opening cinematic, and IGN describes it as a delay of about four weeks.

Quick summary

Launch: Tuesday, February 23, 2027 (previously January 2027)
Early access for preorders: Friday, February 19, 2027
Preorders open: Wednesday, November 4, 2026, with bonus items
New jobs: Bastion (tank) and Zephyr (ranged DPS with a crossbow and an avian companion)
Platforms listed by IGN: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Mac

What is the new FFXIV Evercold release date?

The expansion now launches on February 23, 2027. Players who preorder get early access from February 19, four days sooner. The original January 2027 window was set when Evercold was revealed in April at the North American Fan Fest, so the slip is small but real.

When do Evercold preorders open?

Preorders open on November 4, 2026. Bonus items were due to be detailed during the Tokyo keynote, so check the official FFXIV site once the store page goes live for the exact editions and prices in your region. We have not seen India pricing confirmed.

What is new in Evercold?

The opening cinematic was the third and final teaser, and the keynote, led by director and producer Naoki Yoshida, covered new features, the story's direction and fundamental gameplay changes as the game moves to version 8.0. Confirmed highlights include a new world and main story, a Bastion tank job, the Zephyr ranged job, a Neon Genesis Evangelion crossover raid series called Ghosts of Desire, and a Final Fantasy VII crossover raid series.

Is the delay a problem?

For a live-service MMO, a month is minor, and the dated early-access window gives subscribers a clear countdown. Square Enix has not, in the sources we reviewed, given a detailed reason for the shift, so treat any explanation you see elsewhere as speculation.

Should you catch up before launch?

If you are new, the previous expansion Dawntrail is the story you will want finished before Evercold. Use our launch calendar to track the date, and check Can I Run It for PC readiness once requirements are published. Other big dates this season are in our Duskbloods delay report.