Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail will be delayed by approximately four weeks, with the official release date moved from January 2027 to February 23. Players who pre-order can access Early Access starting February 19.
Producer Naoki Yoshida revealed the new release schedule at the Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival in Japan. Pre-orders will begin on November 4, with rewards including a Kotel pet modeled after the new feline race introduced in the expansion, earrings, and Early Access eligibility. Specific details for each edition can be found on the official website.
The expansion will also introduce several adjustments to game systems. The new "Evolution" system aims to streamline the action bar and reorganize job gameplay, and the game will also feature a raid series linked with the Final Fantasy VII Remake series.
Following the schedule adjustment, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail will enter the relatively crowded February 2027 release window. Major titles such as Fable, God of War: Laufey, Persona 4: Revival, and Metro 2039 are also planned for release around this time.
With the new dates announced, the preparation timeline for existing players, as well as the pre-order and Early Access schedules, have been confirmed: Pre-orders open on November 4, Early Access begins on February 19, 2027, and the official launch is on February 23.