Konami has officially confirmed that its Apple Arcade title Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be taken offline next month, marking the end of the game's availability on the platform. The service will first be removed from the Apple Arcade catalogue on August 20, after which the game will become completely unplayable on September 3. From that point forward, no one will be able to launch or enjoy the title. In a statement posted on its corporate website, Konami explained the decision, noting that the game has enjoyed a solid player base 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 company wrote. "However, we have decided to terminate the service [in September]." The developer also took the opportunity to thank its 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," the statement read, underscoring the appreciation Konami feels for the fans who have kept the game alive for several years. To understand why Grimoire of Souls is disappearing now, it helps to look back at its origins.
The game first appeared in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play title for iOS and Android devices, initially released only in Canada. That early version featured in‑game currency, microtransactions, and a monetisation model that was typical for mobile games at the time. After roughly a year of operation, the original mobile version was discontinued, paving the way for a fresh launch. In September 2021, Konami re‑introduced the title as an exclusive offering for Apple Arcade, making it available across a broader range of Apple hardware, including iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, and Mac.
The transition to Apple Arcade came with a significant overhaul: the developers stripped out all forms of in‑game purchases, removed the virtual currency system, and re‑designed the user interface to better suit the Apple ecosystem. They also took the chance to upgrade the visual fidelity, polishing graphics and improving performance to meet the expectations of a premium subscription service. While the revamped version received praise for its atmospheric take on the classic Castlevania lore and its smooth, controller‑friendly gameplay, the broader market for subscription‑based games is highly competitive.
Over time, Apple Arcade has seen a steady rotation of titles, with many games being added and later removed as licensing agreements expire or as publishers shift focus to new projects. Grimoire of Souls is one of several titles slated for removal in the coming months.
In addition to Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, other popular games are also approaching their end‑of‑life dates. Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour, another mobile‑focused title, is set to cease operations in September. Following that, the Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem service will be discontinued in October, and Sony’s Destruction AllStars will close its doors in November.
These shutdowns reflect a broader trend in the industry where developers periodically retire older services to allocate resources toward newer experiences or to streamline their portfolios. For players who have invested time in Grimoire of Souls, the upcoming shutdown may feel abrupt, but Konami has offered a brief window for fans to finish any remaining progress. As of the August 20 delisting, the game will no longer appear in the Apple Arcade catalog, meaning new users will be unable to download it.
Existing owners will retain access until the September 3 cutoff, after which the servers will be taken offline and the game will no longer launch. The removal also raises questions about preservation of digital games. Titles that rely on online services, especially those tied to subscription platforms, often vanish once the servers are shut down, leaving only screenshots and personal memories.
Some fans turn to archival projects or community‑run servers to keep the experience alive, though such efforts are typically outside the official support of the original publisher. In summary, Konami’s Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will disappear from Apple Arcade on August 20 and become completely unplayable on September 3. The decision follows a history that began with a limited regional mobile release, transitioned to a subscription‑based exclusive with significant improvements, and ultimately concluded as part of a broader wave of game service terminations.
While the shutdown marks the end of an era for fans of this particular Castlevania spin‑off, it also reflects the evolving nature of digital game distribution and the lifecycle of online‑dependent titles.