Konami has publicly disclosed that its Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls experience, which has been available exclusively through Apple Arcade, will be taken offline in the near future. According to the company's statement, the game will be formally removed from the Apple Arcade catalog on August 20, after which it will become completely inaccessible on September 3. From that point onward, players will no longer be able to launch or play the title. In a notice posted on Konami's website, the publisher reflected on the game's history and its support over the years.
"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 message went on to thank the community, stating, "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." Grimoire of Souls originally debuted in September 2019 as a free-to-play offering for iOS and Android devices, initially rolling out in the Canadian market. The early version of the game featured a traditional free-to-play model that included in-game currency, micro‑transactions, and a monetisation system that was common for mobile titles at the time. After about a year of operation, the original version was discontinued, prompting Konami to reconsider its distribution strategy. In an effort to reach a broader audience and to align the experience with a premium subscription model, Konami re‑launched the game in September 2021 as part of Apple Arcade, Apple's subscription service that provides a curated selection of games without ads or additional purchases.
The Apple Arcade version was made available across multiple Apple platforms, including iPhone, iPad, iPadOS, tvOS, and macOS. As part of the relaunch, Konami stripped out the in-game currency and micro‑transaction elements, effectively converting the game into a pure, purchase‑free experience.
The development team also took the opportunity to overhaul the user interface, refine level layouts, and upgrade the graphical fidelity to better match the capabilities of modern Apple hardware. The decision to retire the title comes at a time when a number of other games are also scheduled for discontinuation across various platforms.
For example, the popular mobile racer Mario Kart Tour is slated to end its service in September, followed by the animated action game Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem, which will be taken offline in October. Additionally, the vehicular combat title Destruction AllStars is set to cease operations in November. These closures reflect a broader industry trend where subscription‑based services and free‑to‑play titles are periodically evaluated for viability, player engagement, and revenue performance. From a player’s perspective, the removal of Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls means that any saved progress, unlocked characters, or in‑game achievements will no longer be accessible once the servers are shut down.
Players who have not yet had the chance to experience the game are encouraged to download and play it before the delisting date on August 20, as the title will still be functional on their devices until the final shutdown on September 3. The broader Castlevania franchise, owned by Konami, remains a significant part of the company's portfolio, with new entries and updates continuing to be released on various consoles and PC.
While Grimoire of Souls will cease operation, the brand’s legacy persists through other titles such as Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, the recent remake of Symphony of the Night, and upcoming projects that continue to explore the gothic, vampire‑hunting lore that fans have come to love. In summary, Konami’s announcement signals the impending removal of Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls from Apple Arcade on August 20, followed by a complete service termination on September 3.
The company thanked its community for years of support, highlighted the game's evolution from a free‑to‑play mobile experiment to a premium, ad‑free experience on Apple devices, and placed the closure within the context of several other games facing similar fates in the coming months. Players who wish to revisit the game should do so before the delisting date, as the experience will become unavailable thereafter.