Konami has officially disclosed that its title Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be taken offline next month, marking the end of its availability on Apple Arcade. The game, which has been a part of the Apple Arcade catalog since its debut on the platform in September 2021, will first be removed from the service’s storefront on August 20. After that date, the title will remain accessible only to those who have already downloaded it, but the servers that support its online features will be shut down on September 3, at which point the game will become completely unplayable.
In a statement posted on Konami’s official website, the company reflected on the game’s lifespan and the decision to end its 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 developers went on to thank the community, 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." Grimoire of Souls originally debuted in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile title for iOS and Android, initially released only in Canada. That first version featured in‑game currency, microtransactions, and a monetization model that was later deemed unsustainable for a broader audience. After roughly a year of operation, Konami discontinued the original mobile version, citing a desire to rethink the game's direction.
The title was subsequently resurrected as an Apple Arcade exclusive, expanding its reach to iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices. In this second incarnation, Konami stripped out the in‑game currency and microtransaction mechanics, opting instead for a pure subscription‑based experience that aligned with Apple Arcade’s ad‑free, no‑extra‑cost philosophy. Alongside the removal of monetization features, the development team overhauled the user interface, refined the level layouts, and upgraded the visual fidelity to take advantage of the higher resolution displays available on Apple’s hardware.
These enhancements were intended to provide a smoother, more immersive experience for both longtime Castlevania fans and newcomers discovering the series through the Arcade service. The decision to pull Grimoire of Souls from Apple Arcade comes amid a broader trend of games reaching the end of their service lives on subscription platforms. Konami noted that Grimoire of Souls is one of several titles slated for shutdown in the coming months. For instance, Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour, another mobile title with a strong online component, is scheduled to cease operations in September.
Following that, Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem is set to close in October, and Sony’s Destruction AllStars will be taken offline in November. These closures reflect the challenges developers face in maintaining live‑service games, especially when player bases dwindle or when the cost of server upkeep outweighs revenue.
For players who have not yet had a chance to finish the game, the upcoming delisting and shutdown serve as a final reminder to download any remaining content and complete any unfinished challenges before the servers go dark. Since the game’s online features—including leaderboards, multiplayer modes, and periodic content updates—rely on Konami’s backend infrastructure, the cessation of those services will render the title unplayable, even if the app remains installed on a device.
The broader Castlevania franchise, a long‑standing pillar of Konami’s catalog, continues to thrive through other releases and remasters across consoles and PC. While Grimoire of Souls will no longer be accessible, the series’ legacy lives on in recent titles such as Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls’ spiritual successor, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night remasters, and the upcoming Bloodlines project announced for next‑generation consoles. Fans of the gothic action‑RPG style can look forward to these upcoming releases, which promise to deliver fresh takes on the classic vampire‑hunting formula. In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be removed from the Apple Arcade storefront on August 20, with its online services fully terminated on September 3, making the game unplayable thereafter.
Konami expressed sincere thanks to its community for their support over the years and highlighted the game’s evolution from a monetized mobile app to a polished, subscription‑based experience. As part of a wave of service terminations affecting several mobile and streaming titles, the shutdown underscores the shifting landscape of live‑service gaming, where developers must balance ongoing operational costs against player engagement. Players are encouraged to savor the remaining moments in the game before the final shutdown and to keep an eye on future Castlevania projects that will continue the series’ storied tradition.