Konami has made public its plan to discontinue Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls next month, ending the title’s presence on Apple Arcade and ultimately removing the ability for players to access the game. The removal process will occur in two stages: first, the game will be taken off the Apple Arcade catalog on August 20, and then, on September 3, the servers that power the experience will be shut down, rendering the game unplayable for anyone who still has it installed. In a statement posted on Konami’s official website, the company reflected on the title’s lifespan.
"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 message went on to thank the community, noting, "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." To understand why this shutdown matters, it helps to revisit the game’s origins.
Grimoire of Souls first appeared in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play title for iOS and Android devices, initially released only in Canada. That early version relied on a traditional mobile monetisation model, featuring in‑game currency and microtransactions that allowed players to unlock characters and upgrades.
After roughly a year, the original version was discontinued, but Konami saw an opportunity to give the game a new life on Apple’s subscription platform. In September 2021, the title was relaunched exclusively through Apple Arcade, a service that promises an ad‑free, no‑microtransaction experience. With this transition, Konami stripped away the in‑game currency system, removed all purchase options, and overhauled the user interface to better suit the console‑like environment of Apple Arcade. Visual upgrades were also applied, delivering sharper graphics and smoother animations that took advantage of the higher performance capabilities of iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac hardware.
The decision to retire Grimoire of Souls follows a broader trend of games on subscription services reaching the end of their operational windows. Maintaining online servers, especially for titles that no longer generate revenue, can become financially unsustainable. Konami is not alone in this regard; several other games have already announced similar timelines.
For instance, Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour is slated to cease operations in September, while Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem will follow in October, and Sony’s Destruction AllStars is set to shut down in November. Each of these closures reflects a strategic shift toward concentrating resources on newer or more profitable projects. For players who have invested time in Grimoire of Souls, the shutdown means that any progress, unlocked characters, or saved data will be lost after September 3.
Those who wish to preserve memories of the experience may consider recording gameplay footage or taking screenshots before the final server deactivation. Since the game will no longer be available for download after the August 20 delisting, new players will also be unable to try it out. The broader Castlevania franchise, however, remains active across multiple platforms.
Konami continues to support newer entries and remasters, ensuring that the iconic vampire‑hunting series lives on in other forms. Fans of Grimoire of Souls can look forward to upcoming releases or updates within the franchise that may incorporate some of the mechanics and character designs that made the mobile title popular. In summary, Konami’s announcement signals the end of an era for Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls on Apple Arcade. The game will be removed from the storefront on August 20, and its online services will be terminated on September 3, after which it will no longer be playable.
The company expressed heartfelt thanks to its community, acknowledging the support that sustained the title for nearly two years on the platform. While this closure is disappointing for dedicated fans, it aligns with a wider industry pattern of winding down older online games to reallocate resources toward future endeavors.