Konami has officially confirmed that its Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be taken offline next month, marking the end of the title’s run on Apple Arcade. The game, which has been a part of the Apple Arcade library since its debut on the platform, will be removed from the service on August 20. After that date, the title will no longer be available for download, and on September 3 the servers that support the game will be shut down, rendering it completely unplayable. In a statement posted on Konami’s website, the company reflected on the game’s lifespan and the decision to end its service.
"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 developers 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." To understand why this shutdown matters, 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 for iOS and Android, initially released only in Canada. That early version featured in‑game currency, microtransactions, and a monetisation model typical of many mobile titles. After about a year, the original mobile version was discontinued, but Konami saw an opportunity to revive the game in a different form.
In September 2021, Grimoire of Souls was relaunched as an Apple Arcade exclusive, expanding its availability to iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac users. The shift to Apple Arcade came with a series of significant changes. Konami stripped out all forms of in‑game purchases, eliminating the micro‑transaction system entirely. The game’s visual presentation was overhauled, with higher‑resolution textures, refined character models, and a more polished UI that better suited the larger screens of iPads and Macs.
The developers also reorganised the game’s layout to improve navigation and make it more intuitive for players accustomed to console‑style experiences. The title itself is a spin‑off of the long‑running Castlevania franchise, focusing on a roster of characters drawn from the series’ extensive lore. Players could collect and upgrade a variety of heroes, each with unique abilities, and then pit them against waves of enemies in a dungeon‑crawling format. The game’s design emphasized strategic team building and offered a nostalgic appeal for long‑time fans of the series, while also being accessible enough for newcomers.
Despite these improvements, the broader market for subscription‑based gaming services has become increasingly competitive. Apple Arcade, launched in 2019, now hosts hundreds of titles, and many developers must weigh the cost of ongoing server maintenance, content updates, and customer support against the revenue generated from a subscription model. In Konami’s case, the decision to end Grimoire of Souls appears to be part of a larger trend of pruning less‑profitable or less‑engaged titles from their portfolio. Grimoire of Souls is not alone in facing an imminent shutdown.
Konami has indicated that several other games are slated for removal from online services in the coming months. Notably, the mobile racing game Mario Kart Tour is set to cease operations in September. Following that, the Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem title will be taken offline in October, and the multiplayer shooter Destruction AllStars is scheduled for November. This pattern suggests a strategic shift, possibly focusing resources on newer projects or on titles that continue to attract a robust player base.
For players who have invested time in Grimoire of Souls, the upcoming delisting and server shutdown will mean that any progress, unlocked characters, and achievements will become inaccessible after September 3. Konami has not announced any compensation or transfer options for existing players, so those who wish to preserve memories of the game may want to capture screenshots, record gameplay, or otherwise archive their experiences before the cut‑off date. In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will leave Apple Arcade on August 20 and will be fully offline by September 3, ending its availability for both new downloads and continued play.
Konami’s public statement thanks the community for its support and acknowledges the game’s two‑year journey on the platform. The shutdown is part of a broader wave of service terminations affecting several other mobile and console‑style games, reflecting the evolving priorities of developers within the subscription gaming ecosystem.