After the massive announcements at Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest in Anaheim, California, the Warriors of Light are finally getting more information about what’s coming in FFXIV Evercold when it launches in January 2027, the MMORPG’s sixth expansion. During the keynote for the Berlin edition of the Fan Fest, Square Enix has finally announced the new job, introduced the first of the new areas in the expansion, and a bunch more. And maybe a Cloud or two.
In just about every way, the 2026 FFXIV Fan Fest Berlin keynote built on everything that Square Enix and FFXIV director Naoki Yoshida (Yoshi-P) laid the foundation for in Anneheim this year. Earlier this year, we got concept art, teased a new Tank job with the picture on Yoshi-P’s shirt, and found out that Neon Genesis Evangelion was coming to the game. And we even got new playable content.
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You can check out the keynote on Square Enix’s channel here, or you can scroll down and read through all of the highlights from Berlin Fan Fest below.
New FFXIV Evercold Extended Teaser Trailer
Much like in Anaheim, Berlin Fan Fest began with a trailer of FFXIV Evercold, only this time, it’s extended. Still technically a “teaser trailer” for Evercold, the trailer that opened Yoshi-P’s keynote introduced the new zone, cities, the new job, and also dropped larger hints at the evolving lore of Eorzia.
Providing a glimpse into the world of the Fourth and the adventures that await the Warrior of Light, the new trailer drives home that Evercold is the start of a new saga: The Goddless Realms Saga story arc. While we still don’t know everything that is coming to the critically acclaimed MMORPG, the FFXIV Evercold extended trailer did more than get fans ready, as more is set to be revealed when the Tokyo Fan Fest closes out 2026 on October 31, 2026.
New Job: Bastion (Tank)
The rotation update marked a new time for those who tank in FFXIV, with condensed combos and official Main Tank and Off Tank assignments coming to the jobs that fall under the Tank umbrella. Now, we know what job is joining Paladin in the MT roles: Bastion.
Bastion’s Official Concept:
Located in the vast expanse of the Northern Empty, Aerslaent has long been protected by the indomitable Bastions, Heritors of the ancient martial techniques developed over generations by the archipelago’s rulers.
It’s said that no Raider’s axe can penetrate a Bastion’s hulking Skyltborg-and one would be foolish to try, for these shape-changing greatshields’ aetherial artillery has brought a swift end to many a marauder, be it from near of far.
Of course, the Skyltborg also odder protection for its wielder and their allies in the form of defensive and curative boons.
Announced as the first new job coming in FFIXV Evercold, the giant great shields are known as Skyltborg (a play on Skjöldborg, the legendary Viking battle formation where warriors stood shoulder-to-shoulder with their shields overlapping to create a defensive barrier). The great shields can be transformed into shields with barrels at the end to shoot from mid-range or morphed into claw-like blades to excel in melee combat.
Where Gunbreaker offered tanks a big ‘ol sword gun, Bastion is a job that gives players two great shields that are also kind of swords? Worn on the arms, the new weaponry adds a new distinct profile to the game, and with a look at how it looks on a Roegadyn and a slimmer character, I’m already thinking about the glams.
In the trailer for the new job, Bastion’s appearance is really what steals the show. With similar aesthetics in animation to the Paladin, the style of combat feels much more visceral when Bastion is in melee stance compared to ranged. The transformative quality of the Skjöldborg is really the kicker that gets me excited as a Tank main.
Additionally, Bastion will only have Evolved as its Action Mode. You can watch the Bastion teaser trailer here to get a look at the upcoming new job yourself here.
New Areas Coming in Evercold
During the keynote, Yoshi-P gave players a larger look at the new Zone and its cities coming in FFXIV Evercold. With inspiration from Norse mythology, the designs and names call out the game’s wide world of inspiration.
The Icebound Realm of the Fourth has two new areas and a city. The teaser trailers for these cities present around 90 seconds of walkthrough content, giving players a look at what is coming in January 2027.
Housed on these Realmships (airships with environments atop them), players will get to experience a range of environments that fly above the frozen world of the Fourth. The Realmships will not be small but maintain the same area size as the other areas that players are used to.
New Area: Naglfar, the Realmship of Water
New Area: Hringhorni, the Realmship of Fire
New City: Fargarth
Gameplay Updates Coming in FFXIV Evercold
As we saw in Anaheim Fan Fest, the MMO’s gameplay is changing, and the keynote gave players a look into the new features coming to FFXIV Evercold.
Narrative Changes in 8.0
Yoshi-P announced the renewed focus on player agency, with new changes coming to narrative structure for the main scenario, field, and game system. The hope is that these changes allow players more freedom to choose which area they complete first across various paths in the main scenario.
After every player has done the opening quests in the MSQ, they will be able to tackle the remaining part of the MSQ in a branching format. This will allow players to tackle the story content in a way that works well for them, and craft a unique experience in an order of their choosing.
The branching nature of the new MSQ structure won’t change the story’s outcomes, but it will mean that players get different emotions and experiences depending on the order they approach the MSQ and the information they have done before one element.
Auto Content Balancing also addresses the often-discussed leveling issue when approaching content. Because of the new branching structure, playing the different instance dungeons in different orders does create level disparity in the content.
The brand new Auto Content Balancing will help flatten out the playing field regardless of who you party up with or your own level. This will be attributed to difficulty scaling. Enemy levels will adjust to the appropriate player level as they play through dungeons in their chosen order.
Character Customizations: Action Skins & Expanded Character Customization
This new feature was teased at the last Fan Fest and will let 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.
While it may seem small, this added bit of customization pulls away the appeal of some of the game’s unapproved mods.
One of the announcements that got the crowd on their feet last Fan Fest was the expanded CC. This will hopefully offer 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 setting individual colors for pieces of one armor set.
EVANGELION – Ghosts of Desire Alliance Raid Series
In a moment where nearly the entire crowd went absolutely feral (me included), Square Enix announced that Evangelion is coming to FFXIV. With excellent collaboration raids already, the inclusion of EVA is a step that is sure to pull in new players as well.
Yoshi-P also shared the new teaser trailer and announced that acclaimed director and animator Mahiro Maeda will join the project as a special guest artist and designer. Maeda’s work isn’t only defined by EVA, with his work on projects like Mad Max: Fury Road and EVANGELION:3.0 +1.0 THRICE UPON A TIME cementing his directorial and artistic eye.
FFXIV x Final Fantasy VII Remake Trilogy Crossover
Evangelion wasn’t the only collaboration that was expanded on during the Berlin Fan Fest. During the keynote, Yoshi-P was joined on stage by FINAL FANTASY VII Remake series Director Naoki Hamaguchi.
Together, Hamaguchi and Yoshi-P announced “Beyond the Lifestream,” a new FINAL FANTASY VII-themed 8-player raid series that players will challenge in Evercold. Yoshi-P assured the audience that both development teams are working closely together to create an exciting new raid experience for players, with Motomu Toriyama & the FFXIV Scenario Team working on Story, supervised by Kazushige Nojima. Additionally, on art, Tetsuya Nomura is serving as the Art Design Director.
“Beyond the Lifestream” will consist of:
- 3 Tiers: Which will start in 8.01
- 3 Difficulties: Normal, New, Savage
Patch 7.56 Update: Gold Saucer Update
On September 8, 2026, Patch 7.56 will introduce new MSQs Part 2 for Beastmaster. But that’s not all. Yoshi-P also announced that the Gold Saucer is getting an update!
The new Gold Saucer attraction is, well, the FFVII Golden Saucer inside of FFXIV’s Gold Saucer, and it will feature an all-new mini-game: Keybound Brawler. An online typing game that can be played with up to 4-players. The new attraction will be live on October 28, 2026.
This challenge will feature different themes that will take advantage of characters, enemies, and players from the game. In order to attack the enemies, players will need to use specific words from FFVII.
Yoshi-P and Hamaguchi joked that the nature of the keyboard brawler can easily be adapted to new crossovers in the future, whether that is with other Final Fantasy games or even Dragon Quest.
Additionally, this first version of Keyboard Brawler will also feature fashion that players will be playing for, with Barrett and Tifa being the focus.
Patch 8.1 Update: Chocobo Companion System Overhaul
Beginning with Patch 8.1, Yoshi-P shared that 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.
Now, players will get their long-requested feature: forming a light party with their chocobos. Because of how you raised your chocobo, the stat lines may be an issue in any dungeon. But Yoshi-P also explained that the team will be working on balancing content to your chocobo’s role and level.
When it comes to the current breeding system, that is also getting an expansive and complete breeding system to put combat in the focus. Gysahl Greens are going to be re-examined to improve effects and impact usage, and basic commands will be revamped to meet the needs of dungeoneering.
FFXIV on Switch 2 Release Date
FFXIV will launch on Nintendo Switch 2 on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, with pre-orders starting today on Nintendo eShop. In an effort to ensure server stability, there will be an approximately one-month free subscription period on the Switch 2.
FFXIV Evercold Collector’s Bundle
Yoshi-P also announced what will be included in the FFXIV Evercold Collector’s Bundle.
Physical Collector’s Edition:
- Evercold Special Art Box
- Expertly Crafted Reaper Figure
- Ethos Metal Keychain
- Köttr Mini Plush
- Tapestry of the Fourth
Digital Collector’s Edition:
- The Crystal Skyltborg bastion weapon
- Vallhallar Odin mount
- Entreat Crystal emote
FINAL FANTASY XIV Patch 7.55 will also be released on Tuesday, July 28, bringing players more updates, with new Occult Crescent, Phantom Weapons, Inconceivably Further Hildibrand Adventures, and Allied Society quests.
