Konami has officially confirmed that its title Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be taken offline next month, marking the end of its availability on the Apple Arcade platform. The game, which has been a part of the Apple Arcade catalog since its launch in September 2021, will first be removed from the storefront on August 20. Following that removal, the servers that support the game will be shut down on September 3, after which the title will no longer be playable by anyone.
In a statement posted on Konami's official website, the company expressed appreciation for the community that has kept the game alive for several 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 company went on to thank its fan base, saying, "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." To understand why this decision 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 Canada. That original version featured a traditional free‑to‑play model with in‑game currency, microtransactions, and a monetisation system that allowed players to purchase upgrades and new content.
After roughly a year of operation, the mobile version was discontinued, and Konami began exploring ways to bring the experience to a broader audience without the constraints of a microtransaction‑driven economy. In September 2021, the game was reborn as an Apple Arcade exclusive, available across iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac. This relaunch removed all forms of in‑game purchases, aligning the title with Apple Arcade's subscription‑based, ad‑free philosophy.
Alongside the removal of the monetisation layer, Konami took the opportunity to overhaul the game's visual presentation, refining character models, improving lighting, and updating user interface layouts to better suit the larger screens of iPads and Macs. The redesign also introduced a more streamlined progression system, allowing players to focus on exploring the classic Castlevania universe without the distraction of a cash‑shop. Despite these improvements, the game's lifespan on Apple Arcade has now come to an end.
The decision to shut down Grimoire of Souls is part of a broader trend of online‑dependent titles being retired as their player bases dwindle or as companies shift resources toward newer projects. In the same announcement, Konami noted that several other games are slated for similar fates in the upcoming months. For example, the popular mobile racing game Mario Kart Tour is set to cease operations in September, followed by Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem in October, and the console‑focused Destruction AllStars in November. Each of these closures reflects the challenges of maintaining live services, especially when the cost of server upkeep outweighs the revenue generated from a shrinking audience.
For players who have invested time in Grimoire of Souls, the shutdown means that any progress made, characters unlocked, or achievements earned will become inaccessible after September 3. Because the game relied on cloud‑based servers for saving data and matchmaking, there is no offline mode that can preserve a player's progress. Konami has not announced any compensation or data export options, which is typical for service‑based titles that are being retired.
The broader Castlevania franchise, however, remains active across multiple platforms. Fans of the series can still enjoy a wide range of titles, from the classic 2‑D side‑scrollers like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night to the newer 3‑D entries such as Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. The franchise continues to receive support through periodic re‑releases, remasters, and new installments, ensuring that the iconic vampire‑hunting legacy lives on even as individual spin‑offs like Grimoire of Souls are phased out. In summary, Konami's announcement signals the final chapter for Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls on Apple Arcade.
The game will be removed from the subscription service on August 20, and its online functionality will be terminated on September 3, after which it will no longer be accessible. While the decision marks the end of an era for fans of this particular iteration, it also underscores the evolving nature of digital game distribution and the inevitable turnover of online‑dependent titles. Players are encouraged to savor any remaining time they have with the game before the shutdown and to explore other entries in the Castlevania catalog for continued vampire‑slaying adventures.