Konami has officially confirmed that its Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be taken offline next month, marking the end of the game’s presence on Apple Arcade. The service will first remove the title 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 it. In a statement posted on Konami’s website, the company 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 statement read. "However, we have decided to terminate the service [in September]." The publisher 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." The history of Grimoire of Souls is a bit of a winding road. The title originally debuted in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile experience for iOS and Android users in Canada.
That initial version relied on in‑game currency and microtransactions, a common model for mobile games at the time. After roughly a year, the original mobile iteration was discontinued, and Konami shifted its focus toward a more premium, subscription‑based distribution method. In September 2021, the game resurfaced as an exclusive offering for Apple Arcade, a subscription service that promises ad‑free, no‑microtransaction experiences.
For this re‑launch, Konami stripped out all forms of in‑game purchases, overhauled the user interface, and upgraded the visual fidelity to better suit Apple’s hardware ecosystem, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac devices. The result was a more polished, cohesive adventure that allowed fans of the long‑running Castlevania franchise to explore a new, multiplayer‑focused spin‑off without the distractions of a freemium economy.
Despite the positive reception from a dedicated niche audience, the broader market dynamics of subscription gaming have shifted over the past few years. Apple Arcade’s catalog has grown substantially, and older titles sometimes face dwindling player counts as new releases capture attention.
Konami’s decision to sunset Grimoire of Souls appears to be part of a larger trend of pruning less‑active games from the platform to allocate resources toward newer projects. Grimoire of Souls will not be the only title to disappear from online services in the near future. Industry observers have noted a wave of scheduled shutdowns across various platforms.
For example, Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour, another mobile‑focused title, is slated to cease operations in September. Following that, Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem is set to go offline in October, and Sony’s Destruction AllStars will end its service in November. These closures highlight a broader pattern where developers and publishers are consolidating their live‑service portfolios, often due to declining player engagement or strategic shifts toward newer IPs. For players who have invested time in Grimoire of Souls, the upcoming shutdown means that any progress, unlocked characters, or in‑game achievements will become inaccessible after September 3.
Konami has not announced any compensation or data migration options, which is typical for many service terminations where the underlying infrastructure is being decommissioned. If you are a fan of the Castlevania series and are looking for alternative ways to experience its gothic atmosphere, there are several other entries worth exploring.
Classic titles like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and the more recent Castlevania: Lords of Shadow series continue to receive updates and are available on multiple platforms, including consoles and PC. Additionally, Konami has hinted at future projects within the franchise, though details remain scarce. In summary, Konami’s Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be removed from Apple Arcade on August 20 and will become completely unplayable after September 3.
The company expressed sincere thanks to its community for the support shown over the years. This shutdown is part of a broader series of service terminations affecting several mobile and subscription‑based games in the coming months, reflecting evolving priorities within the gaming industry.