Konami has officially confirmed that its Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be taken offline next month, marking the end of the game's availability on Apple Arcade. The title, which has been part of the Apple Arcade catalog since its debut on the platform in September 2021, will be removed from the service on August 20. After that date, the game will no longer be downloadable, and on September 3 the servers that support its online features will be shut down, rendering the game completely unplayable. In a statement posted on Konami’s website, the company reflected on the title’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 firm went on to thank its 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 arrived in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile experience for iOS and Android devices, initially rolling out only in Canada.
That early version featured in‑game currency, microtransactions, and a design that catered to short, on‑the‑go play sessions. After roughly a year of operation, the mobile version was discontinued, but Konami saw an opportunity to revive the property in a different form. In 2021, the game was relaunched exclusively on Apple Arcade, expanding its reach to iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and macOS.
This re‑release stripped out the original micro‑transaction model, removed the in‑game currency system, and introduced a more polished visual style along with refined user interfaces. The shift aimed to provide a more cohesive, premium experience that aligned with Apple Arcade’s subscription‑based, ad‑free philosophy. The decision to end the service comes as part of a broader trend within the industry where several titles are scheduled for shutdown in the near future. Konami’s announcement noted that Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will join a short list of games slated for decommissioning over the next few months.
Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour, another mobile title, is set to cease operations in September. Following that, Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem is slated for October, and Sony’s Destruction AllStars will close its doors in November. These closures reflect the challenges of maintaining live‑service games, especially those that rely on continuous server support and periodic content updates. For players who have invested time in Grimoire of Souls, the upcoming shutdown means that any progress, unlocked characters, or saved data will become inaccessible after September 3.
Konami has not indicated any compensation or data migration options, which is typical for many service terminations of this nature. Fans are encouraged to finish any remaining activities they wish to complete before the deadline, as the game will no longer be playable once the servers are offline. The broader Castlevania franchise, known for its gothic horror aesthetics and action‑RPG mechanics, continues to thrive across multiple platforms.
While Grimoire of Souls represented an experimental foray into the mobile and subscription‑based market, the core series remains active with recent releases on consoles and PC. Konami’s focus appears to be shifting back toward more traditional, full‑priced titles that can sustain longer lifespans without the overhead of constant online maintenance.
In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be removed from Apple Arcade on August 20, and its online functionality will cease on September 3, after which the game will be unplayable. Konami expressed sincere thanks to its player base and highlighted the game's evolution from a free‑to‑play mobile app to a polished Apple Arcade exclusive. The shutdown aligns with a wave of similar closures affecting several other mobile and live‑service games in the coming months.
Players who wish to preserve their memories of the game are advised to capture screenshots or record gameplay before the final shutdown date.