Konami has officially confirmed that its title 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 be removed from the Apple Arcade catalog on August 20, after which the game will become completely inaccessible on September 3, meaning that no player will be able to launch or play the title beyond that date.
In a statement posted on Konami’s website, the company reflected on the game’s history and the decision to end its service. "Since its debut on Apple Arcade in September 2021, the game has enjoyed steady support from a dedicated community of players," the announcement read. "Nevertheless, after careful consideration, we have chosen to discontinue the service in September." The statement also included a note of appreciation for the player base: "We would like to thank all of our fans for their enthusiastic support over the years.
The entire development and operations team sincerely appreciates you for being part of this journey." Grimoire of Souls originally launched in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play title for iOS and Android devices, but only in the Canadian market. After a brief run, the game was pulled from those platforms roughly a year later. Konami later revived the project by bringing it to Apple’s ecosystem—specifically iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS—through the subscription‑based Apple Arcade service. This re‑release came with a number of significant changes: the in‑game currency and micro‑transaction model were eliminated, the user interface received a redesign, and the graphics were upgraded to take advantage of Apple hardware.
The decision to retire Grimoire of Souls is part of a broader trend of online‑dependent games being phased out as their player bases dwindle or as strategic priorities shift. In the coming months, several other titles are slated for similar shutdowns. For example, the mobile racing game Mario Kart Tour is scheduled to cease operations in September. Following that, the animated‑themed title Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem will be taken offline in October, and the vehicular combat game Destruction AllStars will end its service in November.
The shutdown process for online‑only games typically follows a two‑step approach. First, the title is removed from storefronts or subscription catalogs, preventing new downloads or purchases.
This step occurred for Grimoire of Souls on August 20, when it was delisted from Apple Arcade. The second step is the actual termination of the game’s servers, which happened on September 3.
Once the servers are shut down, any functionality that relies on a live connection—such as multiplayer matchmaking, cloud saves, or in‑game events—becomes unavailable, rendering the game unplayable even for those who previously installed it. Players who wish to preserve any personal memories of the game are encouraged to capture screenshots, record gameplay footage, or save any offline content before the final shutdown date. Unfortunately, because Grimoire of Souls was fundamentally built around a live service architecture, there is no official way to continue playing the game in an offline mode after the servers are turned off. The removal of Grimoire of Souls also highlights the evolving nature of the Apple Arcade platform.
While Apple Arcade launched with the promise of a curated library of high‑quality, ad‑free games, the service has seen a number of titles come and go as publishers reassess the financial viability of maintaining server‑based experiences. Konami’s decision reflects both the challenges of sustaining a niche title over several years and the company’s desire to allocate resources toward new projects. For fans of the Castlevania franchise, the shutdown may feel like the loss of a unique entry that blended classic vampire‑hunting lore with a collectible‑card‑style progression system.
Grimoire of Souls allowed players to assemble a roster of characters from across the series, each with distinct abilities, and to engage in cooperative battles against a variety of bosses. The game’s design emphasized strategic team composition and offered a fresh take on the long‑standing series.
Looking ahead, Konami has not disclosed any immediate replacements or successors to Grimoire of Souls within the Apple Arcade lineup. However, the company continues to develop new titles across its diverse portfolio, ranging from action‑adventure games to rhythm titles. Fans interested in future releases should keep an eye on official Konami announcements and the Apple Arcade storefront for updates.
In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be delisted from Apple Arcade on August 20, with all online services terminating on September 3. The game’s lifecycle began as a free‑to‑play mobile title, transitioned to a subscription‑based offering with enhanced graphics and a micro‑transaction‑free model, and now concludes as part of a broader wave of game shutdowns affecting several popular titles.
Players are advised to savor any remaining moments with the game before the final shutdown and to stay tuned for Konami’s next ventures in the gaming space.