Konami has officially confirmed that its title Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will cease operations next month. The game, which has been available exclusively through Apple Arcade, is slated to be removed from the platform’s catalog on August 20. Following that delisting, the servers that support the title will be shut down on September 3, after which the game will no longer be accessible or playable by anyone.
In a statement posted on Konami’s official 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 announcement read.
"However, we have decided to terminate the service [in September]." The developer also took the opportunity to thank the community that has kept the title alive for several 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 statement added. To understand the context of this shutdown, it helps to look back at the game’s origins.
Grimoire of Souls first appeared in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play offering for iOS and Android devices, initially released only in the Canadian market. After roughly a year of operation, the original version was discontinued. Konami then re‑entered the mobile space by bringing the title to Apple Arcade, expanding its availability to iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS platforms.
During the transition to Apple Arcade, Konami made a series of substantive changes to the game's structure and monetisation model. The company eliminated in‑game currency and any microtransaction mechanics that had been present in the free‑to‑play version.
In addition, the developers overhauled the user interface, refined level layouts, and upgraded the visual fidelity to take advantage of Apple’s hardware capabilities. These enhancements were intended to provide a smoother, more premium experience for subscribers to the Arcade service. Despite these improvements, the lifecycle of mobile and subscription‑based games often follows a predictable pattern: after an initial surge of interest, player numbers gradually decline, and maintaining server infrastructure becomes less economically viable. Konami’s decision to pull Grimoire of Souls from Apple Arcade and subsequently shut down its online components aligns with this broader industry trend.
Grimoire of Souls is not the only title facing an imminent offline deadline. The gaming landscape is seeing a wave of similar retirements. For example, Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour is scheduled to go offline in September, ending its run as a mobile spin‑off of the beloved racing franchise. Following that, Warner Bros.
has announced that Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem will be discontinued in October, and Sony’s Destruction AllStars will follow suit in November. These closures reflect a shifting focus among publishers toward newer projects and emerging platforms. For players who have invested time in Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, the shutdown means that any progress, unlocked characters, or in‑game achievements will become inaccessible once the servers are turned off.
Because the game relied on cloud‑based services for multiplayer matchmaking and content updates, there is no offline mode that can preserve the experience after the official cut‑off date. While the end of service can be disappointing, it also offers an opportunity for fans to revisit the game while it remains available. Those who wish to experience the final weeks can download any remaining updates, capture screenshots, or record gameplay footage before the September 3 deadline.
Additionally, the removal from Apple Arcade on August 20 means that new players will no longer be able to add the title to their subscription libraries, effectively sealing the game’s fate as a closed chapter in Konami’s mobile portfolio. In summary, Konami’s Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be delisted from Apple Arcade on August 20, with all online functionality ceasing on September 3. The company expressed sincere appreciation for its community, acknowledging the support that kept the game alive for several years.
This shutdown is part of a larger pattern of mobile and subscription games reaching the end of their operational cycles, as publishers reallocate resources toward fresh initiatives. Players are encouraged to enjoy the remaining time with the title before it disappears permanently from the digital storefront.