Konami has officially confirmed that its Apple Arcade-exclusive game, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, will be taken offline next month. The decision means that the title will be removed from the Apple Arcade catalog on August 20, and the servers that support the game will be shut down on September 3, after which the game will no longer be playable in any form.
In a statement posted on the company’s website, Konami reflected on the title’s history and the reasons behind the forthcoming termination. "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 the community that has kept the game alive for several 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 notice added. To understand the context of this shutdown, 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 available on iOS and Android, initially released only in Canada. The original version relied on in‑game currency and micro‑transactions as part of its revenue model.
After about a year of service, the mobile version was discontinued, and Konami began planning a new approach. In September 2021, the game was revived as an exclusive offering for Apple Arcade, a subscription‑based platform that promises an ad‑free, no‑micro‑transaction experience.
For the Apple Arcade launch, Konami stripped out all of the original in‑game currency systems and micro‑purchase options, overhauled the user interface, and upgraded the visual presentation to take advantage of Apple’s hardware capabilities on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and iPadOS devices. The re‑release was marketed as a premium, fully featured Castlevania experience that could be accessed without additional spending. During its time on Apple Arcade, Grimoire of Souls attracted a dedicated fan base that appreciated the blend of classic Castlevania lore with a collectible‑card‑style gameplay loop.
Players could summon a variety of iconic characters from the franchise, assemble decks, and battle through procedurally generated dungeons. The game also featured regular content updates, seasonal events, and cross‑platform progression, allowing users to continue their progress whether they played on a phone, tablet, or desktop. Despite these efforts, the broader landscape of subscription gaming and the economics of maintaining online services have led many publishers to reevaluate the viability of older titles.
Konami is not alone in this trend; several other games have been slated for shutdown in the coming months. For instance, Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour is set to end its service in September, followed by Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem in October, and Sony’s Destruction AllStars in November. Each of these closures reflects a shift in focus toward newer projects and the challenges of sustaining server costs for games that no longer generate sufficient revenue. For players of Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, the upcoming delisting means that they will lose access to any cloud‑saved progress after the September 3 shutdown.
Konami has advised fans to make the most of the remaining time by completing any unfinished challenges, capturing final screenshots, or simply enjoying the game one last time before it disappears from the storefront. The removal of the title from Apple Arcade on August 20 also means that new users will no longer be able to download it, even if they have an active subscription. Existing owners will retain the ability to launch the app until the server shutdown, but any online features—including multiplayer, leaderboards, and event participation—will cease to function once the servers are turned off. In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be officially delisted from Apple Arcade on August 20, and its online services will be terminated on September 3, rendering the game unplayable thereafter.
Konami’s announcement underscores both appreciation for the community that supported the game over the years and the practical realities of maintaining older online titles in a rapidly evolving gaming market.