Konami has officially disclosed that its title Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will cease operations next month, marking the end of its presence on Apple Arcade. The game, which has been available exclusively through the subscription service since its re‑launch, will first be taken off the storefront on August 20.
After that date, the title will remain accessible only to those who have already downloaded it, but the servers that support its online features will be shut down on September 3, rendering the game completely unplayable. In a statement posted on the company’s website, Konami reflected on the game’s lifecycle.
"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 went on to thank the 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 debuted in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile title for iOS and Android, initially released only in the Canadian market. That first incarnation featured in‑game currency, micro‑transactions, and a monetisation model typical of many mobile games at the time. After a year of operation, the original version was discontinued.
Konami then re‑imagined the experience for Apple Arcade, launching a revamped edition across iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS platforms. In this second iteration, the company stripped out all forms of micro‑transactions, eliminated in‑game purchases, and overhauled the user interface and visual presentation to better align with the premium, ad‑free expectations of Apple Arcade subscribers. The decision to pull the title from the service follows a broader trend of games reaching the end of their support cycles on subscription platforms.
Apple Arcade, which debuted in 2019, has seen a number of its exclusive titles sunset as licensing agreements expire or as developers shift focus to newer projects. In the coming months, several other games are slated for similar fates.
For instance, the popular racing title Mario Kart Tour is scheduled to cease operations in September, followed by Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem in October, and the vehicular combat game Destruction AllStars in November. For players who have invested time in Grimoire of Souls, the upcoming shutdown means that any progress, unlocked characters, or achievements stored on Konami’s servers will be lost after September 3.
While offline play may still be technically possible for a brief window, the game’s core mechanics rely heavily on online connectivity for matchmaking, leaderboards, and content updates, so the experience will be severely limited without server support. The broader gaming community has expressed mixed reactions to these announcements. Some fans appreciate the transparency and the opportunity to savor the game while it remains available, while others lament the loss of a beloved entry in the long‑standing Castlevania franchise.
The title itself was notable for its unique blend of classic gothic aesthetics with modern, fast‑paced combat, allowing players to assemble a roster of iconic characters from the series and engage in cooperative battles against hordes of monsters. Looking ahead, Konami has not detailed any immediate plans to replace Grimoire of Souls with a new title on Apple Arcade, but the company continues to support other entries in its extensive catalog, including recent releases and ongoing updates to established franchises. The announcement serves as a reminder that digital-only games, especially those tied to subscription services, can have finite lifespans, underscoring the importance of preserving personal memories and screenshots while the experience is still accessible. In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be removed from Apple Arcade’s library on August 20, and its online functionality will be fully terminated on September 3, after which the game will no longer be playable.
Konami thanks its community for years of support and encourages players to enjoy the remaining time they have with the title before it disappears from the platform.