Konami has formally disclosed that its title Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be taken offline next month, marking the end of the game's availability on the Apple Arcade platform. 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 players will no longer be able to launch or play the title once that date passes.
In an official statement posted on Konami’s website, the company reflected on the game’s history and its decision to discontinue the service. "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 wording underscores both the appreciation for the community that has kept the game alive for several years and the firm resolve to end its operation. The statement continued with a note of gratitude: "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." This acknowledgment serves as a farewell to the fan base that has followed the title from its early days on mobile devices to its later incarnation on Apple’s subscription service. Grimoire of Souls originally debuted in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play title for iOS and Android devices, initially rolling out only in the Canadian market.
The early version of the game featured in‑game currency, microtransactions, and a monetisation model that allowed players to purchase upgrades and cosmetics. After roughly a year of operation, the mobile version was discontinued, paving the way for a significant overhaul.
In 2021, Konami revived the title as an Apple Arcade exclusive, expanding its reach to a broader set of Apple platforms, including iPhone, iPad, iPadOS, tvOS, and macOS. This relaunch came with a series of substantial changes designed to align the game with the subscription‑based, ad‑free philosophy of Apple Arcade. Notably, Konami stripped out all forms of in‑game currency and microtransactions, opting instead for a pure, uninterrupted gameplay experience.
The visual presentation was also refreshed, with updated character models, smoother animations, and higher‑resolution textures that took advantage of the more powerful hardware found in modern Apple devices. Layouts were reorganised for better navigation, and quality‑of‑life improvements were introduced to streamline progression and combat. The decision to retire Grimoire of Souls follows a broader trend of games leaving online services as their player bases dwindle or as strategic priorities shift. Konami has indicated that several other titles are slated for similar fates in the upcoming months.
For instance, the popular mobile racing game Mario Kart Tour is scheduled to cease operations in September, while Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem will be shut down in October, and the multiplayer arena shooter Destruction AllStars is set to go offline in November. These closures reflect the challenges developers face in maintaining live‑service games, which require ongoing server costs, regular content updates, and active community engagement. For fans of Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, the impending shutdown means that any progress, unlocked characters, or achievements stored on the game’s servers will become inaccessible after September 3. Players are encouraged to finish any pending activities before the deadline, as there will be no opportunity to retrieve saved data once the servers are decommissioned.
The removal from Apple Arcade on August 20 also means that new players will no longer be able to download the title, effectively freezing the player pool at its current size. The broader Castlevania franchise, a long‑standing pillar of Konami’s portfolio, continues to thrive through other releases, including the recent success of titles like Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls’ spiritual successor, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night remasters, and the upcoming collaborations with other media. While Grimoire of Souls will no longer be available, the legacy of the game lives on through its contributions to the series’ evolution, particularly its experiment with free‑to‑play mechanics and its eventual transition to a subscription‑based model. In summary, Konami’s announcement signals the final chapter for Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls on Apple Arcade.
The game will be delisted on August 20 and will become completely unplayable after September 3. The company thanked its community for years of support and highlighted the broader context of multiple titles facing similar shutdowns in the near future. Players who wish to experience the game one last time should do so before the service termination date, as no further access will be possible thereafter.