Konami has officially confirmed that its Apple Arcade‑only title, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, will be taken offline next month. The game will cease to appear in the Apple Arcade catalog on August 20, and after September 3 it will no longer be accessible to players at all.
The publisher explained the decision on its website, noting that the title has enjoyed a steady stream of players since it first arrived on Apple Arcade in September 2021. "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]." In the same announcement, Konami expressed heartfelt appreciation for the community that has backed the game 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 why this shutdown matters, it helps to look back at the title's origins. Grimoire of Souls originally debuted in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile experience for iOS and Android users in Canada. That initial version featured in‑game currency, microtransactions, and a monetisation model typical of many mobile games at the time.
After about a year, Konami discontinued the original mobile launch, opting to re‑imagine the game for a different audience. In September 2021, the re‑worked version arrived on Apple Arcade, expanding its reach to iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac devices.
The transition to a subscription‑based platform allowed Konami to strip away the microtransaction elements, replace the in‑game currency with a more straightforward progression system, and overhaul the visual presentation. The graphics received a notable upgrade, with higher‑resolution textures, refined character models, and smoother animations that better suited the larger screens of iPads and Macs. The user interface was also redesigned to be more intuitive for console‑style controls, reflecting the broader hardware ecosystem of Apple Arcade. The decision to retire the game follows a pattern of several other titles that are slated for removal from online services in the near future.
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 highlight a growing trend in the industry where subscription‑based or live‑service games have finite lifespans, often dictated by player engagement metrics, maintenance costs, and strategic shifts toward newer projects. For fans of Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, the shutdown means that any progress made in the game, unlocked characters, and collected items will become inaccessible after the September 3 deadline.
Players who wish to preserve their achievements should consider taking screenshots or recording gameplay before the final cut‑off date. Since the game will no longer receive server support, even offline modes that rely on cloud‑based validation will cease to function. The broader Castlevania franchise, known for its gothic horror roots and classic side‑scrolling action, has experimented with various formats over the years, from traditional console releases to mobile spin‑offs like Grimoire of Souls.
While this particular entry will soon disappear, the series continues to thrive through recent releases such as Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls' spiritual successor, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night remasters, and upcoming titles announced for next‑generation consoles. In summary, Konami’s announcement signals the end of an era for its Apple Arcade‑only Castlevania experience. The game will be removed from the subscription service on August 20 and will become completely unplayable after September 3.
The company thanked its community for their support, reflecting the usual courtesy extended by developers when winding down live services. As the gaming landscape evolves, players can expect more titles to follow a similar lifecycle, making it important to enjoy and archive their favorite experiences while they are still available.