Konami has officially confirmed that its title Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be taken offline next month, marking the end of the game's availability on Apple Arcade. The removal process will occur in two stages: first, the game will be delisted from the Apple Arcade catalog on August 20, meaning new users will no longer be able to discover or download it. Then, on September 3, the service will be fully shut down, rendering the game unplayable for anyone who has already installed it.
In a statement posted on the company’s website, Konami reflected on the game’s history and the decision to discontinue it. "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 company 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." Grimoire of Souls originally debuted in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play title for iOS and Android devices, but only in the Canadian market.
After a year of operation, the mobile version was discontinued. Konami later revived the game by bringing it to Apple Arcade, expanding its reach to iPhone, iPad, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS platforms.
The Apple Arcade iteration removed the original in‑game currency and micro‑transaction model, overhauled the user interface, and upgraded the visual presentation to better match the expectations of the subscription‑based service. The upcoming shutdown is part of a broader trend of titles being retired from online services as companies streamline their portfolios.
In the same timeframe, other games are slated for removal: Mario Kart Tour is scheduled to cease operations in September, Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem will follow in October, and Destruction AllStars is set to be taken offline in November. These closures reflect shifting priorities within the industry, where maintaining live services for older titles can become less viable over time. For players who have invested time in Grimoire of Souls, the announcement serves as a reminder to finish any ongoing progress before the September deadline. Once the servers are deactivated, any saved data that relies on cloud connectivity will become inaccessible, and the game will no longer launch.
While the offline version of the app may remain on devices, its core functionality—such as multiplayer battles, leaderboards, and content updates—will be disabled. The decision to end support for Grimoire of Souls aligns with Konami’s broader strategy of focusing resources on newer projects and platforms. By reallocating development and operational staff, the company can concentrate on upcoming releases, updates to existing franchises, and potential new ventures in the ever‑evolving gaming landscape. Although the shutdown may disappoint longtime fans, Konami’s public gratitude highlights the positive reception the game received during its tenure on Apple Arcade.
In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be removed from Apple Arcade on August 20, and the service will be completely terminated on September 3, after which the game will no longer be playable. Konami thanks its community for the support and acknowledges the game's journey from a limited‑region free‑to‑play mobile title to a polished Apple Arcade experience, before joining a wave of other titles that are also scheduled for offline retirement in the coming months.