Konami has officially confirmed that its Apple Arcade‑only title, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, will be taken offline in the near future. The company disclosed that the game will be removed from the Apple Arcade catalog on August 20, after which it will no longer be accessible to players.
The final shutdown is scheduled for September 3, at which point the game will be completely unplayable. In a statement posted on Konami’s website, the publisher reflected on the game’s lifecycle. "Since its debut on Apple Arcade in September 2021, the title has enjoyed steady support from a dedicated community of players," the statement read. "Nevertheless, we have made the decision to end the service in September." The announcement also included a heartfelt thank‑you to the fan base.
"We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who has embraced the game over the years," the notice continued. "The entire development and operations team is grateful for your enthusiasm and for sharing this journey with us." To understand why the game is now being retired, it helps to look back at its origins. Grimoire of Souls first appeared in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play title for iOS and Android devices, initially released only in the Canadian market.
After a year of operation, the original version was discontinued. However, Konami saw an opportunity to revive the project by partnering with Apple Arcade, a subscription‑based gaming service that offers ad‑free, premium experiences across Apple devices. When the game relaunched on the Apple Arcade platform, it received a substantial overhaul.
The developers eliminated the in‑game currency and microtransaction mechanics that had been part of the original free‑to‑play model, opting instead for a fully premium experience. They also refreshed the user interface, streamlined the level layouts, and upgraded the visual fidelity to take advantage of the higher performance capabilities of iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices.
These changes were intended to provide a smoother, more immersive Castlevania experience that aligned with the expectations of Apple Arcade subscribers. Despite these improvements, the title has now joined a growing list of games that are slated for shutdown in the coming months. The broader trend reflects the challenges that subscription services face in maintaining a rotating catalog of titles while balancing licensing costs, server upkeep, and player engagement metrics.
Other notable titles that will follow Grimoire of Souls include Mario Kart Tour, which is set to cease operations in September, Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem, scheduled for an October shutdown, and Destruction AllStars, which will be taken offline in November. The decision to retire a game can be disappointing for fans, especially when the title has cultivated a loyal community. However, Konami’s public acknowledgment of the players’ support underscores a common practice in the industry: providing clear communication and gratitude when a service ends. This approach helps preserve goodwill and can encourage players to explore other offerings from the publisher, whether they are new releases or existing titles that remain active.
For those 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. Players are encouraged to finish any ongoing challenges or capture final screenshots before the service is terminated.
While the game will no longer be downloadable from the Apple Arcade store after the delisting date, those who have already installed it will retain the ability to play until the server shutdown, after which the game will cease to function entirely. In summary, Konami’s Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be removed from Apple Arcade on August 20 and will go offline permanently on September 3.
The company expressed gratitude to its community and highlighted the game's evolution from a free‑to‑play mobile title to a premium Apple Arcade experience. As part of a broader wave of game retirements, this shutdown reflects the dynamic nature of subscription‑based gaming platforms and the ongoing need to refresh content libraries for both developers and players.