Konami has officially confirmed that its title Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will cease operations next month, marking the end of the game's presence on Apple Arcade. The service will first be removed from the Apple Arcade catalog on August 20, after which the game will become completely inaccessible on September 3, at which point players will no longer be able to launch or play the experience. In a statement posted on the company's website, Konami reflected on the game's lifecycle, noting that since its debut on Apple Arcade in September 2021, Grimoire of Souls has enjoyed a steady stream of support from a dedicated player base.
Despite this ongoing engagement, the company announced its decision to terminate the service in September, citing strategic considerations that led to the shutdown. "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 message went on to thank the community, expressing sincere appreciation for the enthusiasm and loyalty shown over the years. "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 company added. To understand the context of this decision, it helps to look back at the title's origins.
Grimoire of Souls first appeared in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile game available on iOS and Android in the Canadian market. The initial version relied on in‑game currency and microtransactions, a common monetisation model for mobile titles at the time. After a year of operation, the original release was discontinued, but Konami saw an opportunity to revive the game in a new format. In 2021, the game was relaunched exclusively on Apple Arcade, expanding its availability to a broader range of Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, and Mac computers.
This re‑release came with a series of significant changes designed to align the title with the subscription‑based, ad‑free philosophy of Apple Arcade. Konami stripped out the in‑game currency system and removed all microtransaction options, effectively converting the experience into a fully premium product for subscribers. In addition, the development team refined the user interface, restructured level layouts, and upgraded the visual fidelity, delivering sharper graphics and smoother performance across the Apple ecosystem. The decision to shut down Grimoire of Souls is not an isolated event.
It forms part of a broader trend in the industry where several games are slated for offline termination in the coming months. For instance, Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour is scheduled 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 shutdowns reflect the challenges of maintaining online services for titles that rely on continuous server support, regular updates, and active player communities. For fans of Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, the upcoming closure means that any progress made in the game will become inaccessible after September 3.
Players are encouraged to finish any pending challenges or capture any final screenshots before the servers go dark. While the game will no longer be playable, its legacy lives on as part of Konami’s extensive Castlevania franchise, which has spanned decades and multiple gaming platforms. Looking ahead, Konami has not announced any immediate replacements or new projects to fill the gap left by Grimoire of Souls. However, the company continues to develop and support other titles within its portfolio, including newer entries in the Castlevania series and various other franchises.
The industry as a whole remains attentive to how developers balance the costs of online maintenance with the desire to provide lasting experiences for players. In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be delisted from Apple Arcade on August 20, and the game’s online services will be terminated on September 3, rendering it unplayable.
Konami expressed gratitude to its community for their support and highlighted the game’s evolution from a microtransaction‑driven mobile release to a polished, subscription‑based experience on Apple devices. This shutdown is part of a larger wave of game retirements scheduled for the latter half of the year, underscoring the shifting landscape of online gaming services.