During this year’s FINAL FANTASY XIV FAN FESTIVAL in Berlin, Square Enix revealed today that FINAL FANTASY XIV Online will officially release on the Nintendo Switch 2 on August 4, 2026.
When it launches, multiple versions will be available, each with a different price tag. Full pricing information is as follows:
There will also be a Free Trial version available. But this wasn’t the only news to come out of the event. Square Enix also spoke at length about the sixth upcoming expansion, Evercold, and revealed a FINAL FANTASY VII Remake Trilogy crossover event.
For the full details, we have them here:
“BASTION” REVEALED AS FIRST NEW JOB FOR FINAL FANTASY XIV: EVERCOLD
New Playable Content, FINAL FANTASY VII Remake Trilogy Crossover Raid Series, Nintendo Switch™ 2 Version Release Date and More Announced at FAN FESTIVAL 2026 in Berlin Keynote Address
Los Angeles (July 25, 2026) – SQUARE ENIX® today revealed brand-new information about Evercold, the sixth expansion for its critically acclaimed MMORPG FINAL FANTASY XIVOnline, set to launch in January 2027 alongside new playable content, a FINAL FANTASY VII Remake Trilogy crossover raid series, the Nintendo Switch 2 version release date and more.
An extended teaser trailer for Evercold was also revealed, providing a glimpse into the world of the Fourth and the adventures that await the Warrior of Light in the start of the Goddless Realms Saga story arc.
During the Fan Festival 2026 in Berlin keynote address, Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida revealed the first new job coming to Evercold: Bastion—a main tank that wields a pair of greatshields known as skyltborg—and unveiled a trailer showcasing the new job in action.
Details were also shared on several new features coming to Evercold, including changes to the narrative structure that will be implemented for the main scenario, field, and game system, allowing players more freedom to choose what area they complete first between various paths in the main scenario. Through Auto Content Balancing, difficulty scaling and enemy levels will adjust to the appropriate player level as they play through dungeons in their chosen order. Additionally, a first look was provided for Character Action Skins, a feature that lets players assign alternate animations to personalize existing General actions, such as Teleport and Warp, with support for additional skins such as job actions arriving in future updates. Character customization will also be expanded so players have more ways to make their character stand out, including a greater range of color options with the new color picker, the ability to fine-tune features such as eyes and lips, new elements such as eye shadow, and more.
Following the reveal of the EVANGELION – Ghosts of Desire alliance raid series in April, Yoshida unveiled a new teaser trailer and announced that acclaimed director and animator Mahiro Maeda will join the project as a special guest artist and designer. Throughout his career, Maeda has contributed to numerous acclaimed projects, including “Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015) as a concept artist and designer, and “EVANGELION:3.0 +1.0 THRICE UPON A TIME” (2021), where he served as director, concept art director, storyboard artist, art setting designer and key animator.
Joined on stage by FINAL FANTASY VII Remake series Director Naoki Hamaguchi, Yoshida also revealed “Beyond the Lifestream,” a new FINAL FANTASY VII-themed 8-player raid series that players will challenge in Evercold. Both development teams are working closely together to create an exciting new raid experience for players.
Further, FINAL FANTASY XIV will launch on Nintendo Switch 2 on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, with pre-orders starting today on Nintendo eShop. To ensure server stability, there will be an approximately one-month free subscription period on Nintendo Switch 2. Whether beginning with the Free Trial, starting their adventure with the Starter Edition, or diving into the full story and experience with the Complete Edition, more players than ever before will soon be able to join together in the vast world of FINAL FANTASY XIV.
An outline of the content reveals from the keynote address can be found below:
New Job: Bastion, a main tank wielding two greatshields known as skyltborg
New Areas in the Icebound Realm of the Fourth: Naglfar, the Realmship of Water; Hringhorni, the Realmship of Fire; and Fargarth, a new city
New Raid Series: Beyond the Lifestream – a crossover with the FINAL FANTASY VII Remake trilogy
New EVANGELION – Ghosts of Desire Teaser Trailer
Chocobo Companion System Overhaul – Patch 8.1: Beginning with Patch 8.1,Expansive updates to chocobo companions, including an overhaul of the chocobo raising system, as well as the ability to call forth your chocobo to assist you in dungeons
Nintendo Switch 2 Version: Available for pre-order now; the Free Trial, Starter Edition, Complete Edition, and Dawntrail will launch on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026
Same-Region Player Matching – Patch 7.5x: Matchmaking will expand across entire physical data centers rather than being limited by logical data centers, beginning with Japan in mid-October and North America and Europe to follow
New Gold Saucer Mini-game: Keybound Brawler: a FINAL FANTASY VII-themed typing mini-game that can be with up to four players arriving on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026
For newcomers, the Starter Edition includes four award-winning titles
For newcomers to FINAL FANTASY XIV Online, this edition includes four award-winning titles – FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn the base game, and the first, second and third expansions: FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward, FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood and FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers. This edition also includes a 30-day free play period*
Join over 30 million adventurers worldwide and take part in an epic and ever-changing FINAL FANTASY. Experience all the hallmarks of the best-selling franchise – an unforgettable story, exhilarating battles, and a myriad of diverse and captivating environments to explore.
Party up with friends or play solo! Experience all the main story dungeons on your own by calling upon NPC allies to fight by your side.
Your journey takes you ever higher in FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward:
Take your first steps in the reclusive nation of Ishgard, locked in a seemingly never-ending struggle with dragons.
Three additional jobs: channel celestial magicks to heal your allies as the mystical Astrologian. Attack from afar using firearms and mechanical weaponry as the daring Machinist. Wield a mighty greatsword and the power of darkness as the valiant Dark Knight.
Rekindle the fires of hope in FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood:
Journey to the East and rise up against the might of the Garlean Empire.
Two additional jobs: master the balance of martial and arcane arts as the rapier-wielding Red Mage. Draw your katana and let steel sing as the noble Samurai.
Become the darkness in FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers
Travel to a world where light ushers all unto oblivion. But hope is not yet lost, for where there is light there is shadow.
Two additional jobs: wield the aether charged gunblade wielding Gunbreaker. Weave deadly steps into dazzling displays as the rhythm guided Dancer.
Blue seas, clear skies, and boundless possibilities await in Dawntrail, the newest expansion pack for the critically acclaimed FINAL FANTASY XIV Online! Explore uncharted territories with familiar faces as you discover new tribes, confront formidable threats, and expand your horizons as hope’s light dawns once more.
Multiple new jobs, including:
Viper: melee DPS. Deal swift strikes with dual blades that can be combined into a single powerful weapon.
Pictomancer: magical ranged DPS. Bring wondrous creations to life including creatures, weapons, and landscapes using a specialized brush.
New playable race: female Hrothgar
Level cap increase from 90 to 100
Journey westward towards Tural and explore brand new areas! Ascend the mountainous Urqopacha, traverse the lush forests of Yak T’el, and discover what adventures await you in the ancient city of Tuliyollal.
Meet new Allied Tribes, including the diminutive Pelupelu who wear distinctive masks and inhabit Urqopacha and the Moblins, a people residing in the jungles of Kozama’uka.
New threats to overcome, including Valigarmanda, Eliminator, and the Barreltender
New Dungeons
New 8-Player Raid Series: The Arcadion
New Alliance Raid: Echoes of Vana’diel, a crossover series with FINAL FANTASY XI
New limited job: Beastmaster, releasing in the Patch 7.x series
Expansive New Lifestyle Content: Cosmic Exploration
New Gear and Recipes
New Variant Dungeons
New Field Operations
New Ultimate Raid: Futures Rewritten (Ultimate)
PvP Updates
New Unreal Trials
Ongoing Content Updates, including a Blue Mage Update, Inconceivably Further Hildibrand Adventures, new plans for Deep Dungeons
Core Battle Content including FATEs, Hunts, Treasure Hunts and Sidequests
In 2015, when rumours of the NX and Zelda U were everywhere, my brother and I started Miketendo64 and we've been running it ever since. As the Editor-in-Chief, I have attended video gaming events in three different countries, been to preview events, and penned more than 4,000 articles to date, ranging from news, to features, reviews, interviews and guides. I love gaming and I love all things Nintendo. I also love Networking, so don't be afaid to reach out.
Email: contact@miketendo64.com / jack.lo@miketendo64.com
Website: https://miketendo64.com/
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