Konami has confirmed that its Apple Arcade title Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will cease operations next month. The game, which has been available exclusively through Apple Arcade since its re‑launch, will first be removed from the storefront on August 20, after which it will become completely inaccessible on September 3.
From that point forward, players will no longer be able to launch or play the title. In an official statement posted on the company’s website, Konami explained that the decision was made after more than two years of service. "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 publisher also took the opportunity to thank its community.
"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 message continued. Grimoire of Souls originally debuted in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile title for iOS and Android in Canada. After a brief run, the original version was discontinued a year later.
Konami then re‑imagined the game for Apple Arcade, releasing it across iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS. In the transition, the company stripped away the in‑game currency and microtransaction mechanics that had characterized the initial launch, overhauled the user interface, and upgraded the visual presentation to better match the expectations of Apple Arcade’s premium catalog.
The upcoming shutdown of Grimoire of Souls is part of a broader trend of games reaching the end of their lifecycle on subscription platforms. In the same announcement period, Konami noted that other titles are also slated for removal in the coming months. Mario Kart Tour, the mobile racing game from Nintendo, is scheduled to go offline in September. Following that, Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem will be discontinued in October, and Destruction AllStars, another Apple Arcade exclusive, will cease operations in November.
These closures reflect the challenges of maintaining live‑service games that rely on ongoing content updates, server infrastructure, and a steady player base. When the cost of supporting a title outweighs its revenue or strategic value, publishers often opt to sunset the service, providing a final notice to players so they can finish any pending progress or download any personal data they wish to keep.
For fans of Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, the shutdown means that any progress made in the game will become inaccessible after September 3. Players who wish to preserve memories of their experience may want to capture screenshots, record gameplay, or document their favorite moments before the servers go dark.
Since the game no longer includes microtransactions, there are no outstanding purchases to refund, but the company’s statement suggests that they are grateful for the support received throughout the title’s lifespan. The removal of the game from Apple Arcade on August 20 also means that new users will no longer be able to discover or download it from the service. Existing owners will retain the ability to launch the app until the final shutdown date, after which the app will likely display an error message indicating that the service is no longer available.
While the end of Grimoire of Souls may be disappointing for its dedicated community, it also serves as a reminder of the evolving nature of digital gaming. Titles that once thrived on subscription models or free‑to‑play monetization can have finite lifespans, especially when platforms shift focus or when developers choose to allocate resources to newer projects.
Konami’s broader portfolio continues to include a range of other franchises, and the company has indicated that it remains committed to supporting its existing games while exploring new opportunities. As the industry moves forward, players can expect further changes to the availability of digital titles, making it increasingly important to enjoy and archive experiences while they are still accessible. In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be delisted from Apple Arcade on August 20, 2026, and will become completely unplayable on September 3, 2026. Konami has thanked its player base for the years of support and has placed this shutdown alongside the upcoming discontinuations of Mario Kart Tour, Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem, and Destruction AllStars, marking a notable shift in the lineup of games available on subscription services.