Konami has officially disclosed that its title Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be taken offline in the near future. The game, which has been available exclusively through Apple Arcade, is slated to be removed from the subscription platform on August 20.
Following that removal, the service that powers the game will be fully terminated on September 3, after which players will no longer be able to launch or play the title. In a statement posted on Konami's corporate website, the company reflected on the game’s lifecycle since its debut 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]." The phrasing underscores that, despite a dedicated fan base that kept the game alive for nearly two years on the platform, the decision to end support was ultimately made by the publisher.
The announcement also included a note of appreciation directed at the community. "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," Konami wrote. This sentiment acknowledges the role that players have played in sustaining the title and serves as a courteous farewell as the servers are shut down. To understand the context of this shutdown, it helps to trace the game’s origins. Grimoire of Souls first entered the market in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play experience for iOS and Android devices, initially launching only in Canada.
That early version featured a traditional mobile monetization model, complete with in‑game currency and microtransactions. After roughly a year of operation, the original iteration was discontinued, paving the way for a reimagined release. In 2021, Konami partnered with Apple to bring Grimoire of Souls to the Apple Arcade subscription service, expanding its availability to iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac computers.
The re‑launch was more than a simple port; the developer stripped out the original in‑game currency system and eliminated any microtransaction mechanics, aligning the title with Apple Arcade’s ad‑free, no‑extra‑cost philosophy. Alongside these financial changes, the team also overhauled the user interface, refined level layouts, and upgraded the visual fidelity to take advantage of Apple’s hardware capabilities. These improvements were intended to provide a smoother, more polished experience for subscribers. Grimoire of Souls is not the only title facing an imminent shutdown.
Konami highlighted that several other games are also scheduled to go offline in the coming months. For instance, 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 retired in October, and the action‑focused Destruction AllStars will close its doors in November. This pattern suggests a broader strategic shift within the industry, where publishers are consolidating resources and winding down older or less profitable services.
The decision to end support for a game like Grimoire of Souls can be driven by multiple factors. Maintaining online servers, providing updates, and handling customer support all incur ongoing costs. When a game’s active player base declines or when the revenue generated does not justify these expenses, companies often opt to sunset the service.
In the case of Apple Arcade titles, the subscription model means that revenue is tied to overall subscriber numbers rather than individual game sales, which can further influence a publisher’s decision to allocate development resources elsewhere. For players who have invested time in building their in‑game collections, the shutdown can be disappointing.
However, Konami’s statement indicates that the company is aware of the community’s attachment and is offering a final thank‑you. While there is no mention of compensation or data migration, the acknowledgment itself serves as a polite closure. In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be delisted from Apple Arcade on August 20 and will become completely inaccessible on September 3, marking the end of its two‑year run on the platform. The game’s journey began as a free‑to‑play mobile title, was later transformed into an ad‑free, subscription‑based experience, and now concludes alongside other titles that are being retired by their publishers.
Fans of the series and of the game itself are encouraged to savor the memories and achievements they have earned before the final servers go dark.