Konami has officially confirmed that its Apple Arcade‑only title Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be taken offline next month. The game will be delisted from the Apple Arcade catalogue on August 20, and after that date it will no longer be accessible to players. The final shutdown is scheduled for September 3, at which point the title will cease to function entirely.
In a statement posted on the company’s website, Konami reflected on the game’s history and its decision to end support. "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 developer also took the opportunity to thank the 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 notice added. To understand why this shutdown matters, it helps to look back at the origins of Grimoire of Souls. The title first appeared in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile game for iOS and Android, initially released only in Canada.
That early version featured in‑game currency, microtransactions, and a layout optimized for small touch screens. After roughly a year, the original mobile version was discontinued. In September 2021, Konami revived the game as an exclusive offering for Apple Arcade, expanding its availability to iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac devices. The Apple Arcade iteration removed all forms of micro‑transactions, eliminated the in‑game currency system, and introduced a cleaner user interface along with upgraded graphics that took advantage of Apple’s hardware capabilities.
By stripping away the freemium monetisation model, Konami aimed to deliver a more polished, ad‑free experience that aligned with the subscription‑based ethos of Apple Arcade. Despite these improvements, the title never achieved the same level of popularity as some of Konami’s flagship franchises, and its player base remained relatively niche. Over the past two years, the company has been gradually winding down support for several of its less‑performing titles.
Grimoire of Souls joins a short list of games slated for closure in the coming months. For example, the mobile racing game Mario Kart Tour is set to end service in September, followed by the cartoon‑themed shooter Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem in October, and the vehicular combat title Destruction AllStars in November. The broader trend reflects a shifting landscape in the mobile and subscription gaming markets. As subscription services like Apple Arcade mature, publishers are reassessing which titles justify continued server costs, ongoing maintenance, and content updates.
Games that rely heavily on live‑service components, frequent updates, or micro‑transaction revenue streams are often the first to be retired when they no longer meet financial or strategic goals. For players who have invested time in Grimoire of Souls, the shutdown means that any progress, unlocked characters, or saved data will become inaccessible after September 3. Because the game operated entirely online, there is no offline mode or local save that can be exported.
Konami has not announced any compensation or migration path for existing users, which is typical for titles that were offered as part of a subscription service rather than a standalone purchase. If you are a fan of the Castlevania series and are looking for alternative ways to experience the franchise on Apple devices, there are a few options still available.
Konami continues to support other Castlevania titles on various platforms, including the critically acclaimed Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (available via the App Store as a paid download) and the newer mobile‑focused Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls spin‑off, which remains accessible in regions where it was not removed. Additionally, the broader Nintendo Switch library offers several Castlevania entries that can be played offline without reliance on server connectivity. In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will disappear from Apple Arcade on August 20 and will be fully shut down on September 3, ending all player access.
Konami’s announcement includes a thank‑you to its community, but no further support or compensation is planned. The closure is part of a larger wave of service terminations affecting multiple mobile and subscription‑based games as publishers streamline their portfolios. Players who wish to continue enjoying the Castlevania universe will need to explore other titles within the franchise that remain active and supported.