Konami has officially confirmed that its title Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will cease operations next month, marking the end of the game’s presence on Apple Arcade. The service will first be removed from the Apple Arcade catalog on August 20, after which the game will become completely inaccessible on September 3, at which point players will no longer be able to launch or play it.
In a statement posted on the company’s website, Konami reflected on the game’s lifespan, noting that since its debut on Apple Arcade in September 2021 the title has enjoyed a steady stream of players who continued to engage with its content. Nevertheless, the publisher announced that it has made the decision to end support for the service in September, citing internal considerations that led to the termination. "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 the community that has kept the game alive over the years. "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 announcement added. To understand why this shutdown matters, it helps to look back at the game’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 the Canadian market. After a year of operation, the original version was discontinued, but Konami saw an opportunity to revive the experience by bringing it to Apple’s subscription platform.
In 2021, the game was relaunched across a range of Apple devices—including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac—exclusively through Apple Arcade. The relaunch was more than a simple port; Konami used the occasion to overhaul several core aspects of the game. The company removed all forms of in‑game currency and microtransactions, turning the experience into a truly premium offering for subscribers.
Visuals received a refresh, with updated layouts and higher‑resolution graphics designed to take advantage of Apple’s hardware capabilities. These changes were intended to give both new and returning players a smoother, more immersive rendition of the Castlevania universe. Grimoire of Souls is not alone in its impending disappearance.
The announcement placed it among a growing list of titles slated for shutdown in the near future. For instance, Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour is set to close its doors in September, followed by the Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem service in October, and the Destruction AllStars online component in November.
This pattern reflects a broader industry trend where subscription‑based or live‑service games are retired once they no longer meet the strategic goals of their publishers or when maintaining servers becomes financially untenable. For players who have invested time in Grimoire of Souls, the news may feel abrupt, especially given the game’s transition from a free‑to‑play mobile model to a subscription‑based platform. However, the lifecycle of live‑service games often includes an eventual sunset phase, during which developers must allocate resources to newer projects or shift focus to other parts of their portfolio. If you own a copy of Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls on Apple Arcade, you will still be able to download and install the game until the August 20 delisting date.
After that point, the title will disappear from the store, and any progress made will become inaccessible once the September 3 shutdown occurs. Players are encouraged to finish any remaining in‑game activities before the final offline date.
In summary, Konami’s decision to retire Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls marks the conclusion of a six‑year journey that began as a region‑locked mobile release and evolved into a polished, ad‑free experience for Apple Arcade subscribers. While the game’s servers will be turned off in early September, the legacy of its gothic adventure and the community that supported it will remain a notable chapter in the broader Castlevania franchise.