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, at which point players will no longer be able to launch or play it. In a statement posted on the company’s website, Konami reflected on the game’s lifespan, noting that it had been available on Apple Arcade since its debut in September 2021 and had enjoyed a steady stream of support from a dedicated player base.
"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 its 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." This sentiment underscores the typical lifecycle of many subscription‑based or platform‑exclusive games, where operational costs, licensing agreements, and shifting strategic priorities can lead to a decision to sunset a title. Grimoire of Souls originally arrived on the mobile market in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play experience for iOS and Android users in Canada.
The initial version featured in‑game currency, microtransactions, and a monetisation model that was common for mobile titles at the time. After roughly a year, the original iteration was discontinued, but Konami saw an opportunity to revive the game in a different format. In 2021, the title was relaunched exclusively on Apple Arcade, expanding its availability to iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices.
This re‑release eliminated the previous free‑to‑play structure, removing in‑game purchases and microtransactions entirely. In addition, Konami overhauled the user interface, refined level layouts, and upgraded the visual fidelity to better align with the expectations of Apple Arcade subscribers. The decision to retire Grimoire of Souls comes amid a broader trend of games being phased out from various platforms.
Konami noted that several other titles are slated for similar shutdowns in the coming months. For example, 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. These closures illustrate the fluid nature of digital game distribution, where titles may have limited lifespans due to evolving market conditions, player engagement metrics, and the cost of maintaining servers and support. For players who have invested time in Grimoire of Souls, the upcoming removal means that any progress, unlocked characters, or saved data will become inaccessible after the September 3 cutoff.
While Apple Arcade does not typically offer refunds for discontinued games, the announcement encourages fans to enjoy the remaining weeks of access and to capture any final screenshots or memories before the service ends. From a business perspective, Konami’s move reflects a strategic realignment of its portfolio. By focusing resources on newer projects or titles with higher active user counts, the company can allocate development and operational budgets more efficiently.
The shift away from older or niche games also allows Konami to explore fresh IPs, expand existing franchises, or invest in emerging technologies such as cloud gaming and virtual reality. In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be removed from the Apple Arcade storefront on August 20, with full shutdown occurring on September 3. The game, which transitioned from a free‑to‑play mobile app in 2019 to a premium, ad‑free experience on Apple Arcade in 2021, is being retired alongside several other titles slated for decommissioning in the next few months.
Konami has expressed sincere appreciation for the community that supported the game throughout its run, and it encourages players to make the most of the remaining time before the servers go dark.