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 remove the game from the Apple Arcade catalog on August 20, after which the title will become completely inaccessible on September 3, at which point players will no longer be able to launch or play the experience.
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 announcement read. "However, we have decided to terminate the service [in September]." The developer 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 mobile title for iOS and Android, initially rolling out only in Canada. After a brief run, the mobile version was discontinued a year later. Konami then re‑imagined the game for Apple’s subscription platform, releasing it on iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS as part of Apple Arcade in September 2021. This relaunch stripped the title of its original in‑game currency and micro‑transaction model, introduced a cleaner user interface, and upgraded the visual fidelity to better align with the expectations of a premium, ad‑free gaming service.
The decision to pull Grimoire of Souls follows 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 instance, Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour is scheduled to cease operations in September, followed by Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem in October, and Sony’s Destruction AllStars in November. Each of these closures reflects the challenges of maintaining live‑service games that rely on continuous content updates, server costs, and active community engagement.
For fans of Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, the shutdown means that any progress, unlocked characters, or saved data will become inaccessible after September 3. Players who wish to preserve memories of the game are encouraged to capture screenshots or record gameplay before the final date. While the game will no longer be playable, its legacy lives on as part of Konami’s extensive Castlevania portfolio, which spans dozens of titles across consoles, handhelds, and mobile platforms.
The removal also underscores the evolving nature of subscription‑based gaming services like Apple Arcade. While these platforms offer a curated selection of high‑quality games without ads or in‑app purchases, they also require developers to commit to ongoing support and server maintenance. When a title no longer meets performance expectations or fails to attract a sustainable audience, publishers may opt to retire the game rather than allocate further resources. In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will disappear from the Apple Arcade storefront on August 20 and will be fully shut down on September 3, ending its two‑year run on the service.
Konami’s public statement thanks the community for its support and acknowledges the game’s journey from a regional free‑to‑play mobile experiment to a polished entry in a premium subscription catalog. As the gaming landscape continues to shift, both developers and players must adapt to the inevitable cycle of launches, updates, and eventual closures that define the modern, service‑driven gaming ecosystem.