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 decision means that the game will be removed from the Apple Arcade catalog on August 20, and the servers that support it will be shut down on September 3, rendering the game unplayable for anyone who has not already downloaded it. In a statement posted on its corporate website, Konami explained that while the title has enjoyed a solid player base since its debut on Apple Arcade in September 2021, the company has ultimately decided to discontinue the service in September.
"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 company 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." Grimoire of Souls originally appeared in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile title available on iOS and Android, but only in the Canadian market. After a year of operation, the original version was discontinued.
Konami later revived the game as part of its Apple Arcade lineup, expanding its availability to iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS. The re‑launch was notable because Konami removed all in‑game currency and microtransaction mechanics, overhauled the user interface, and upgraded the visual presentation to meet the higher standards expected of an Apple Arcade exclusive. The upcoming shutdown of Grimoire of Souls is not an isolated event.
Several other titles are slated for removal from various platforms in the coming months. For example, the popular mobile racing game Mario Kart Tour is scheduled to go offline in September.
Following that, the Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem experience will be discontinued in October, and the vehicular combat game Destruction AllStars is set to end service in November. These closures reflect a broader trend in the industry where publishers periodically retire older or less profitable titles to reallocate resources toward newer projects. For players who have not yet downloaded Grimoire of Souls, the August 20 delisting date represents the final window to add the game to their Apple Arcade library.
After that point, the title will disappear from the storefront, and any progress made in the game will become inaccessible once the September 3 server shutdown takes effect. Existing owners are encouraged to finish any pending content and back up any personal data they wish to keep before the service termination. The decision to end support for a game can be driven by a variety of factors, including declining active user numbers, the cost of maintaining server infrastructure, and strategic shifts in a company’s portfolio. In the case of Grimoire of Souls, the removal of microtransactions during the Apple Arcade transition suggests that the game was already operating on a model that relied heavily on a subscription service rather than direct monetization.
As subscription platforms evolve, publishers often reassess which titles best fit their long‑term vision and which may no longer justify ongoing operational expenses. Fans of the Castlevania franchise have expressed mixed emotions about the news. While many appreciate the opportunity to have experienced a fresh take on the classic series on modern Apple devices, others are disappointed that the game’s lifespan has been cut short.
The original Castlevania series, known for its gothic atmosphere, challenging gameplay, and iconic vampire hunter protagonist, has a dedicated fan base that spans several generations. Grimoire of Souls attempted to blend the series’ traditional action‑RPG elements with a more casual, mobile‑friendly design, and its removal underscores the challenges of translating legacy franchises into the mobile subscription market.
Looking ahead, Konami has not announced any direct replacements for Grimoire of Souls within the Apple Arcade ecosystem, but the company continues to develop and publish new titles across its diverse portfolio, ranging from rhythm games to fighting titles. Players interested in future releases are advised to keep an eye on official Konami channels and the Apple Arcade storefront for announcements. In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be delisted from Apple Arcade on August 20, 2026, and its online services will cease on September 3, 2026. After that date, the game will no longer be accessible.
Konami thanks its community for their support and encourages anyone who wishes to preserve their experience to act before the shutdown. This closure is part of a larger wave of game retirements that includes Mario Kart Tour, Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem, and Destruction AllStars, reflecting the dynamic nature of the gaming industry and the continual reshuffling of titles across platforms.