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 company stated that the game will be removed from the Apple Arcade catalog on August 20, and the online services that support it will be completely shut down on September 3. After that date, players will no longer be able to launch or play the title. In a brief statement posted on Konami’s website, the publisher reflected on the game’s lifespan.
"Since its debut on Apple Arcade in September 2021, the title has enjoyed continued support from a dedicated player base," the statement read. "Nevertheless, we have made the decision to discontinue the service in September." The announcement also included a note of appreciation for the community.
"We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all of our players for their enthusiastic support over the years," the message continued. "The entire development and operations team is deeply grateful for having you accompany us on this journey." To understand why the game is being retired, it helps to look back at its origins. Grimoire of Souls originally launched in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile title for iOS and Android, but its initial run was limited to the Canadian market. After a year of operation, the original version was discontinued.
Konami later decided to give the game a second life by bringing it to Apple Arcade, expanding its availability to iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices. When the game was re‑released on Apple Arcade, Konami took the opportunity to make several substantive changes. The developers stripped out the in‑game currency and micro‑transaction mechanics that had been part of the free‑to‑play model, opting instead for a pure subscription‑based experience. They also overhauled the user interface, refined level layouts, and upgraded the visual fidelity to better match the capabilities of Apple’s hardware ecosystem.
These enhancements were intended to provide a smoother, more immersive experience for fans of the Castlevania franchise. Grimoire of Souls is not the only title slated for closure in the near future.
The gaming industry has seen a wave of service‑based games reaching the end of their operational cycles as companies reassess the cost‑benefit balance of maintaining online servers for older titles. In the coming months, several other popular games will also be pulled from service. For instance, Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour is set to shut down in September, followed by the Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem in October, and then the Sony‑backed Destruction AllStars in November.
Each of these closures reflects a broader trend of shifting resources toward newer projects and platforms. The decision to retire Grimoire of Souls may be disappointing for fans who have enjoyed the game’s unique blend of classic Castlevania aesthetics with modern, action‑oriented gameplay. However, the move is consistent with Konami’s broader strategy of focusing on titles that align with its current business priorities. While the game will no longer be accessible after early September, those who have played it can still look back on the experience and the memories it created.
For players who are still interested in the Castlevania universe, Konami continues to support other entries in the series across various platforms, including recent releases on consoles and PC. The company’s commitment to the franchise remains evident, even as specific services are phased out. In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will disappear from Apple Arcade on August 20, with its online functionality terminating on September 3. Konami expressed gratitude to its community, highlighted the game’s evolution from a region‑locked mobile title to a polished Apple Arcade offering, and placed the shutdown within the context of a wider industry pattern of retiring older live‑service games.
Players are encouraged to enjoy any remaining time they have with the game before it goes offline, and to keep an eye on Konami’s future releases for more Castlevania adventures.