Konami has officially confirmed that its Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls title will be taken offline next month, marking the end of the game's availability on Apple Arcade. The service will first be removed from the Apple Arcade catalogue on August 20, after which the game’s servers will be shut down on September 3, rendering the title unplayable for anyone who has not already downloaded it.
In a statement posted on the company’s website, Konami reflected on the game’s lifecycle, noting that since its debut on Apple Arcade in September 2021 the title has enjoyed a steady stream of players and ongoing support. However, the publisher added that a decision has been made to discontinue the service in September, citing strategic considerations.
"Since its launch on Apple Arcade in September 2021, the game has continued to be supported by many players," the statement read. "However, we have decided to terminate the service [in September]." The company also took the opportunity to thank its community.
"We would like to express our gratitude to all of our players for their enthusiastic support throughout the years. The entire development and operations team sincerely thanks you for being part of this journey," the message continued.
To understand the context, it helps to look back at the title’s origins. Grimoire of Souls first appeared in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile title for iOS and Android, initially released only in Canada. After a year of operation, the original version was discontinued. Konami later revived the game as part of the Apple Arcade subscription service, expanding its reach to iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS platforms.
During the Apple Arcade relaunch, Konami made several notable changes. The in‑game currency system and any remaining micro‑transaction mechanisms were stripped out, aligning the experience with Apple Arcade’s ad‑free, no‑extra‑cost philosophy. The developers also took the chance to overhaul the user interface, refine level layouts, and boost visual fidelity, delivering sharper graphics and smoother animations that took advantage of Apple’s hardware capabilities. Grimoire of Souls is not alone in facing an upcoming shutdown.
The gaming industry regularly cycles through titles that, after a period of support, are retired due to declining player bases, shifting business priorities, or the cost of maintaining online infrastructure. In the coming months, several other popular mobile and console games are slated for similar fates. Mario Kart Tour, another Apple Arcade‑compatible title, is set to cease operations in September. Following that, Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem will be taken offline in October, and the console‑focused Destruction AllStars will close its servers in November.
For players who still wish to experience Grimoire of Souls before it disappears, the window between now and August 20 remains the only opportunity to download the game onto an Apple device. After that date, while the app may still appear in users’ libraries, it will no longer receive updates or be accessible via the Apple Arcade storefront. Once the September 3 shutdown occurs, any online features, including multiplayer matchmaking, leaderboards, and cloud saves, will cease to function, effectively rendering the game unplayable.
The decision underscores a broader trend in the subscription‑based gaming market, where publishers must balance the cost of server upkeep against the revenue generated from a finite subscriber base. Apple Arcade, which offers a curated selection of games for a flat monthly fee, often rotates titles to keep the catalog fresh and to make room for new releases. While this can be disappointing for fans of legacy games, it also encourages developers to innovate and deliver fresh experiences.
In summary, Konami’s Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be removed from Apple Arcade on August 20 and will go completely offline on September 3. The company expressed sincere thanks to its community for years of support, and reminded players to download the game before the delisting date if they wish to keep a copy.
This shutdown is part of a larger wave of game retirements slated for the next few months, reflecting the evolving nature of digital game distribution and the challenges of sustaining online services over time.