Dragon Quest X Online version 8 update on June 25 will end free Kids Time and browser client accesses

The Japan-exclusive MMORPG Dragon Quest X will have a major shakeup in its platform access lineup with the next major update. Square Enix has revealed that they will release a major update to version 8 with the subtitle Jikuu no Mayoi Ko-tachi (Children Lost in Time and Space) on June 25. However, the company also separately announced that they will close down the free Kids Time access and the browser client version.

Kids Time allowed players to access the game for free during a specific time frame on weekdays at 16:00~18:00 JST and on weekends at 13:00~15:00 JST. When Square Enix first launched DQX Online in 2012, they intended these time frames to be used by children. But now after over 13 years have passed, the company found out that many of these child players have already grown up into adults, and most players have already signed in with paid subscription.

Meanwhile, Square Enix does not provide a clear reason for closing down the browser client, which has been available to access from not only PC but also mobile browsers that support HTML5. The company instead offers existing players to retain their play data by registering a new Square Enix Account and using it on the other available platforms: Windows PC client, Switch, and PS4.

Starting from the Version 8 release on June 25, Dragon Quest X will be only available via Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4. All players must also pay a subscription fee to access the online game.

The full subscription pricing list is as follows. Note that the PS4 version only supports the largest 5-character course.