Konami has officially confirmed that its title Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be taken offline next month, ending its availability on Apple Arcade. The game, which has been part of the Apple Arcade catalog since its debut on the platform, will be removed from the service on August 20, and the servers that support it will be shut down on September 3. After that date, players will no longer be able to launch or play the game. In a statement posted on Konami's website, the company reflected on the game's lifespan and the decision to discontinue it.
"Since its launch on Apple Arcade in September 2021, the game has continued to be supported by many players," the announcement read. "However, we have decided to terminate the service [in September]." The developer also took the opportunity to thank the 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. 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 for iOS and Android, initially released only in Canada. That early version relied on a typical free‑to‑play monetisation model, featuring in‑game currency and microtransactions that allowed players to unlock characters and upgrades.
After roughly a year on the mobile market, the original iteration was discontinued. Konami then chose to give the game a second life by bringing it to Apple Arcade, a subscription‑based service that promises an ad‑free, microtransaction‑free experience. The relaunch, which occurred in September 2021, saw a substantial overhaul: all in‑game purchases were stripped out, the user interface was redesigned for larger screens, and the graphics received a notable polish to meet the higher visual standards expected on iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS devices.
The transition to Apple Arcade also meant that Grimoire of Souls could be played on a broader range of Apple hardware, including iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, and Macs, expanding its reach beyond the original mobile‑only audience. Fans of the Castlevania franchise appreciated the ability to explore a wide roster of classic characters—such as Simon Belmont, Alucard, and Carmilla—within a single, cohesive experience that blended action‑RPG mechanics with the series' iconic gothic aesthetic. Despite these improvements and a dedicated fan base, the game’s operational costs and the finite nature of subscription‑based titles eventually led Konami to conclude that maintaining the service was no longer viable.
This mirrors a broader trend in the industry where several Apple Arcade exclusives are slated for removal as publishers reassess the economics of supporting online components for niche titles. In fact, Grimoire of Souls is not the only game facing an imminent shutdown.
Konami has indicated that a handful of other titles will also be taken offline in the coming months. Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour, another mobile‑focused game with a subscription component, is set to cease operations in September. Following that, Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem will be discontinued in October, and Sony’s Destruction AllStars, which launched on Apple Arcade earlier this year, is slated for shutdown in November. These upcoming closures underscore the challenges developers encounter when balancing ongoing server maintenance, content updates, and player expectations against the revenue generated from subscription platforms.
For players, the news serves as a reminder to enjoy any remaining content before the final shutdown dates and to consider backing up any personal data or progress where possible, although in many cases, server‑side saves will be lost once the service ends. In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be delisted from Apple Arcade on August 20, and its online functionality will be terminated on September 3. Konami expressed sincere thanks to its community for the years of support, and the game’s journey—from a region‑locked free‑to‑play mobile title to a refined Apple Arcade exclusive—highlights both the opportunities and the impermanence that can accompany digital‑only releases.
Players who have enjoyed the gothic adventure are encouraged to savor the remaining days of play before the servers go dark, and to keep an eye on future announcements regarding other titles scheduled for shutdown in the near future.