Ethan Crossfield 
Final Fantasy 14 players on Switch 2 have discovered an unusual Au Ra customization bug that changes horn colors through face paint. The effect is not available normally and does not appear for players on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox. It may be worth watching if you are interested in Evercold’s planned character customization updates, but Square Enix has not confirmed that colored horns will become an official feature.
What changed for Au Ra characters on Switch 2?
The issue surfaced shortly after Square Enix released a hotfix focused on Final Fantasy 14’s Switch 2 load times. According to a player report shared on the game’s subreddit, selecting face paint that changes a character’s eyebrows can also alter an Au Ra character’s horn color. Instead of the usual black or white appearance, the horns may display colors including green, blue, or red.
The visual change appears to be limited to the Switch 2 client. Players using the PC, PlayStation, and Xbox versions will reportedly continue to see the standard horn colors when viewing the same characters. Square Enix has not formally acknowledged the problem, so it could be corrected in a later hotfix.
Who is affected, and should players try it?
Only players using the Switch 2 version and creating or playing an Au Ra character appear to be affected. The port is currently available in an early access state, approximately one month after its release, which provides a possible explanation for why an unusual cosmetic interaction has appeared there first.
Players who want to experiment can treat the effect as a temporary visual bug rather than a reliable customization option. It may not appear on other platforms, and there is no confirmation that characters will retain the altered horn colors after a client update. The discovery also should not be treated as proof that Square Enix has announced a full horn-color system.
What could the bug mean for Evercold?
The timing has prompted speculation because Evercold is expected to add new skin-tone and hair-color options. Square Enix has linked those cosmetic changes to the graphics overhaul introduced during Dawntrail, making it plausible that the Switch 2 behavior could be connected to unfinished or leftover internal testing. That explanation remains unconfirmed, however, and Au Ra horn colors have not been officially listed among Evercold’s announced features.
Au Ra players do have one confirmed change to track. Producer and director Naoki Yoshida said during the Berlin FanFest event in late July that Au Ra face types and horns will be independently changeable starting with Patch 8.1. That update is planned for a few months after Evercold launches. The expansion itself is scheduled for January 2027, while a more precise date may be revealed at the Tokyo FanFest event on Halloween weekend.
What players should know
- The bug links Au Ra horn colors to face paint that changes the eyebrows.
- Reported alternate colors include green, blue, and red instead of the usual black or white.
- The effect is visible on Switch 2, while other listed platforms show the default horn colors.
- Square Enix has not confirmed colored horns as an Evercold feature.
- Independent control of Au Ra face types and horns is confirmed for Patch 8.1.
Expert View
The Switch 2 bug is an interesting clue, but it is not enough to establish that Evercold will add freely selectable horn colors. The confirmed Patch 8.1 separation of Au Ra face types and horns makes broader customization plausible, while the platform-specific behavior could simply be an error. Players should enjoy the discovery cautiously and wait for Square Enix’s official Evercold announcements before treating it as a planned feature.
