Konami has officially confirmed that its title Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be taken offline next month, marking the end of the game’s presence on Apple Arcade. The service will first remove the game from the Apple Arcade catalog on August 20, after which the title will become completely inaccessible on September 3. From that point forward, players will no longer be able to launch or play the game.
In a statement posted on the company’s website, Konami reflected on the game’s lifespan, noting that it has enjoyed steady support from a dedicated community since its debut on Apple Arcade in September 2021. "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 developer also took the opportunity to thank its fan base, expressing sincere appreciation for the enthusiasm and loyalty shown 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. Grimoire of Souls originally arrived in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play title for iOS and Android devices, initially released only in Canada.
After a brief run, the game was pulled from those platforms a year later. Konami later revived the title as part of the Apple Arcade subscription service, expanding its availability to iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
This relaunch came with a series of significant changes: the in‑game currency and microtransaction mechanics were removed, the user interface received a redesign, and the visual fidelity was upgraded to better match the expectations of Apple’s premium gaming audience. The decision to discontinue Grimoire of Souls aligns with a broader trend of mobile and subscription‑based games reaching the end of their operational life cycles.
Konami has indicated that several other titles are also slated for shutdown in the upcoming months. Notably, the popular racing game Mario Kart Tour is set to cease operations in September. Following that, the Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem experience will be retired in October, and the vehicular combat title Destruction AllStars is scheduled for November.
While the removal of a game can be disappointing for its remaining community, it is a common practice in the industry, particularly for titles that rely on ongoing server support, regular updates, or subscription platforms. When a game’s active player base diminishes or the cost of maintaining servers outweighs the benefits, publishers often opt to close the service to reallocate resources toward newer projects. For players who have invested time in Grimoire of Souls, the shutdown means that any progress, unlocked characters, or achievements stored on Konami’s servers will become inaccessible after September 3. Those who wish to retain a personal copy of the game may be able to keep the installed app on their device until the final shutdown, but without server connectivity, many of the game’s features—such as online leaderboards, multiplayer modes, and cloud‑saved data—will cease to function.
The broader gaming community has seen similar closures in recent years, reflecting the evolving nature of digital distribution and the challenges of sustaining long‑term online experiences. As subscription services like Apple Arcade continue to expand their libraries, titles often rotate in and out based on performance metrics, licensing agreements, and strategic priorities. In summary, Konami’s Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be removed from Apple Arcade on August 20 and will become completely unplayable after September 3. The company expressed heartfelt thanks to its players and highlighted that this shutdown is part of a larger series of game retirements slated for the latter half of the year.
While the end of the service marks the conclusion of Grimoire of Souls’ journey on Apple’s platform, it also underscores the dynamic lifecycle of modern digital games and the importance of community support throughout a title’s lifespan.