Konami has officially confirmed that its Apple Arcade title, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, will be taken offline next month. The game, which has been available solely through Apple’s subscription service since its re‑launch, will first disappear from the catalog on August 20. After that date, players will no longer be able to download or reinstall it.
The final shutdown is scheduled for September 3, at which point the title will cease to function entirely, even for those who have it installed on their devices. In a statement posted on Konami’s corporate website, the company reflected on the game’s lifecycle.
"Since its launch on Apple Arcade in September 2021, the game has continued to be supported by many players," the announcement read. "However, we have decided to terminate the service [in September]." The wording underscores both the appreciation for the community that kept the title alive for nearly two years and the strategic decision to end support. The developer also took the opportunity to thank its fan base. "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. This expression of thanks is typical for services that are being retired, acknowledging the time and money players have invested. To understand why Grimoire of Souls is being retired now, it helps to look back at its origins. The game originally debuted in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile title for iOS and Android, but only in the Canadian market.
Its initial run was short‑lived; after roughly a year, Konami pulled the title from the stores, citing a shift in its mobile strategy. The following year, the company gave the game a second chance, this time as a premium offering on Apple Arcade.
The re‑release arrived on iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS, and it came with a host of changes designed to align the experience with Apple Arcade’s ad‑free, no‑microtransaction model. When the game was reintroduced on Apple Arcade, Konami stripped out all in‑game currency systems and micro‑purchases that had been part of the original free‑to‑play version. The developers also took the opportunity to overhaul the user interface, improve level layouts, and polish the graphics to take advantage of Apple’s high‑resolution displays.
These enhancements were intended to give both new players and veterans a more cohesive and visually appealing experience, free from the typical monetisation pressures of mobile games. Despite these improvements, the title never achieved the same level of mainstream visibility as other entries in the long‑running Castlevania franchise. It occupied a niche within the subscription‑based Apple Arcade ecosystem, appealing primarily to fans of the series and to players who enjoy action‑RPGs on mobile platforms.
Over time, the cost of maintaining servers, providing updates, and handling customer support for a relatively small player base likely outweighed the benefits, prompting Konami to schedule its retirement. Grimoire of Souls is not the only game on Konami’s roster slated for closure in the near future.
The company has indicated that several other titles will follow a similar path. Mario Kart Tour, a mobile spin‑off of Nintendo’s iconic racing series, is set to cease operations in September.
After that, Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem is expected to be taken offline in October, and Destruction AllStars, a PlayStation‑focused battle‑royale title, will be discontinued in November. These announcements reflect a broader industry trend where publishers are consolidating resources and ending support for games that no longer meet strategic or financial goals.
For players who still have Grimoire of Souls installed, the September 3 shutdown means the game will become unplayable. Any progress saved locally may become inaccessible, and any online features, such as leaderboards or multiplayer modes, will cease to function. Konami has not announced any compensation or migration options, which is typical for titles that are being retired without a direct successor.
In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be removed from Apple Arcade on August 20 and will stop functioning entirely on September 3. The decision follows a modest run on the platform after an earlier mobile launch and subsequent re‑release that stripped out microtransactions and upgraded the visual presentation. While the game will be missed by its dedicated fans, its retirement aligns with Konami’s broader plan to wind down several underperforming services across different platforms. Players are encouraged to finish any remaining in‑game activities before the final shutdown date.