Square Enix confirmed that the next expansion for Final Fantasy XIV, titled Evercold, will launch on 23 February 2027. The update introduces a second new class, Zephyr, which is described as a physical ranged DPS that fights with a crossbow and is accompanied by an avian familiar.
Zephyr job details
Producer and director Naoki Yoshida revealed the Zephyr class during the opening keynote of the Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival 2026 held in Tokyo. The job combines crossbow attacks with support from a bird familiar named Nephele. Zephyr joins Bastion, a greatshield‑wielding tank that was announced earlier in the year at the Fan Festival in Berlin as Evercold’s first new job.
Pre‑order and Collector’s Box offerings
Pre‑orders for Evercold and the previously announced Collector’s Box become available on Wednesday 4 November at 09:00 GMT. Anyone who pre‑orders receives early access to the expansion, a Wind‑Up Köttr minion and Halone’s Earring, an item that raises experience gained from defeating enemies by 30 percent. The in‑game items are delivered immediately upon pre‑order, allowing players to use the earring to level jobs before Evercold’s release.
The Collector’s Box contains physical merchandise only and does not include the game, digital items or pre‑order bonuses. Inside the box buyers will find an art box featuring an Evercold illustration by Yoshitaka Amano, a figure of the Warrior of Light depicted as a reaper, an Ethos metal keychain, a Köttr mini plush and a Tapestry of the Fourth.
Square Enix is also offering a limited Collector’s Bundle that pairs the physical box with a code for the Digital Collector’s Edition for Windows or Mac. Players on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2 and Steam can purchase the box alone and pre‑order the Digital Collector’s Edition separately. The digital edition adds a Valhallar Odin mount, an Entreat Crystal emote and a Crystal Skyltborg weapon for the Bastion tank.
During the same keynote the company announced a new “Fierce” raid difficulty positioned between Normal and Savage, a trailer for the Evangelion: Ghosts of Desire alliance raid crossover, and additional eight‑player challenges built around existing bosses. New artwork by Tetsuya Nomura for the Beyond the Lifestream raid series—a crossover with the Final Fantasy VII Remake—was also revealed.
Future updates slated for patch 8.1 include Evolved Combat Mode, which Square Enix says will highlight each job’s unique identity, a “Seasons” system that changes how item rewards are earned, expanded character creation options with new Character Action Skins, and enhancements to housing, PvP and the companion chocobo system.
Final Fantasy XIV now boasts over 35 million registered accounts and has become available on the upcoming Switch 2 console, a platform support announced at the end of June. The full Fan Festival keynote can be streamed on Twitch, and further information is provided on the official Evercold website.
Steve Lopez is a Senior Editorial Columnist and Health & Public Policy reporter for News Raise. Steve focuses on healthcare advancements, medical technologies, and public health policies.
