Square Enix announced a major update for Final Fantasy XIV at the Fan Festival 2026 in Berlin. The MMORPG will officially launch on Nintendo Switch 2 on August 4, 2026. Pre-orders are now open through the Nintendo Store, while purchases of the Starter Edition or Complete Edition include a 30-day free play period. Players can begin with the Free Trial or purchase the Starter Edition, Complete Edition, Complete Collector’s Edition, Dawntrail or Dawntrail Collector’s Edition.
During the event, producer Naoki Yoshida shared major details about the upcoming Evercold expansion, which will be launched in January 2027. The game’s new playable job called the Bastion, was the major reveal.
The Bastion, armed with two large shields called skyltborg, is perfect for players who like to protect their team and fight powerful enemies.
The Evercold expansion will also introduce a highly requested update to the main story. For the first time, players can choose their own path through the main scenario. In specific Evercold areas, the auto-balancing system will adjust applicable content according to each character’s level. The game will also have more additions, including character customization options, such as a color picker and additional eye and lip customization, giving players more options to customize how their character looks.
Raids will also be getting a massive upgrade, including the Evangelion alliance raid and Beyond the Lifestream, an 8-player crossover with the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy.
The excitement around Final Fantasy XIV continues to grow as fans eagerly wait for the upcoming updates. Square Enix organized official watch parties at Fortress Melbourne and Fortress Sydney, with 200 tickets available at each venue and 400 tickets offered in total. With Patch 7.55 released on July 28, 2026, and major Chocobo companion updates planned for Evercold, Final Fantasy XIV players have several additions to look forward to.
