Konami has officially confirmed that its Castlevania title, Grimoire of Souls, will be taken offline next month. The game, which has been available exclusively through Apple Arcade, is slated to be removed from the platform’s catalogue on August 20.
Following that removal, the service that powers the game will be shut down entirely on September 3, after which the title will no longer be accessible to players. In a statement posted on Konami’s website, the company reflected on the game’s lifecycle. "Since its debut on Apple Arcade in September 2021, Grimoire of Souls has enjoyed ongoing support from a dedicated player base," the announcement read. "Nevertheless, we have made the decision to discontinue the service in September." The developer also took the opportunity to thank its community.
"We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all of our players for their enthusiastic support over the years," the statement continued. "The entire development and operations team sincerely thanks you for being part of this journey." Grimoire of Souls originally launched in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play title for iOS and Android devices, initially rolling out only in Canada. After a brief run, the game was discontinued a year later. Konami later revived the title by bringing it to Apple’s ecosystem—making it available on iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS through the subscription‑based Apple Arcade service.
When the game returned under the Apple Arcade banner, Konami took the chance to overhaul several aspects of the experience. The company stripped out the original in‑game currency system and removed microtransaction options, aiming for a more streamlined, player‑focused model. Additionally, the developers refreshed the user interface, reworked level layouts, and upgraded the visual fidelity to better align with modern hardware capabilities.
The upcoming shutdown of Grimoire of Souls is part of a broader trend of titles being retired from online services in the near future. Other games slated for removal include Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour, which is set to cease operations in September, Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem, scheduled for an October shutdown, and Sony’s Destruction AllStars, which will be taken offline in November. The decision to end support for online games is often driven by a combination of factors, such as declining active user numbers, the cost of maintaining server infrastructure, and strategic shifts toward newer projects.
While fans of Grimoire of Souls may feel disappointed, the closure also reflects the evolving nature of the mobile and subscription gaming markets, where titles frequently cycle in and out based on player engagement and financial viability. For those who have invested time in the game, it is advisable to finish any ongoing activities before the September 3 deadline, as progress will no longer be saved after that date. Players who have purchased the game through Apple Arcade will retain access to the rest of their subscription library, but the specific Castlevania experience will no longer be available. In summary, Konami’s Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be delisted from Apple Arcade on August 20, with all online services terminating on September 3, rendering the game unplayable thereafter.
The company expressed gratitude to its community and highlighted the changes made during its second life on Apple’s platform, including the removal of microtransactions and visual enhancements. This shutdown joins a lineup of other titles slated for retirement in the coming months, underscoring the fluid nature of digital game publishing.