Konami has 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 catalogue on August 20, after which the game will cease to function entirely on September 3. From that point forward, players will no longer be able to launch or play the title.
In an official statement posted on its corporate website, Konami reflected on the game’s lifespan 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 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 debuted in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile title for iOS and Android, initially available only in Canada.
After a brief run, the original version was discontinued a year later. Konami later revived the game as an Apple Arcade exclusive, expanding its availability to iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS platforms.
The re‑release eliminated the original in‑game currency system and all microtransaction options, and it featured a refreshed user interface along with upgraded graphics to better align with the premium subscription model of Apple Arcade. The upcoming shutdown of Grimoire of Souls is part of a broader trend of games exiting online services in the near future. Mario Kart Tour, another popular mobile title, is slated to end its service in September.
Following that, Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem will be retired in October, and Destruction AllStars is scheduled for shutdown in November. These closures reflect the shifting landscape of subscription‑based and live‑service games, where developers periodically assess the cost of maintaining servers and support against the active player base. For fans of Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, the announcement means that any progress made in the game will become inaccessible after the September 3 cut‑off. Players who wish to preserve memories of their gameplay may want to capture screenshots or record video clips before the service is fully terminated.
While the game will no longer be downloadable after August 20, those who already have it installed will still be able to access it until the final shutdown date, after which the app will simply refuse to launch. The decision to end support for a title like Grimoire of Souls is not uncommon in the industry. Maintaining online infrastructure, handling updates, and providing customer support all incur ongoing expenses.
When a game’s active user count declines or the revenue generated no longer justifies those costs, companies often opt to sunset the product. In the case of Grimoire of Souls, the removal of microtransactions in its Apple Arcade version meant that the game relied solely on the subscription model for revenue, which may have contributed to the decision. Konami’s statement emphasized gratitude toward the community, acknowledging the role that players have played in keeping the game alive for several years.
The sentiment underscores a broader industry practice of recognizing player loyalty when a service is discontinued. It also serves as a reminder that digital games, especially those tied to online services, have finite lifespans, and that players should be mindful of the impermanence of such experiences. Looking ahead, the upcoming closures of Mario Kart Tour, Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem, and Destruction AllStars suggest that the next few months will see a wave of similar announcements across the mobile and console ecosystems. For gamers, this means staying informed about the status of their favorite titles and preparing for possible data loss or the need to transition to new games.
In summary, Konami will delist Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls from Apple Arcade on August 20, with the final shutdown occurring on September 3. The company has expressed sincere thanks to its player base, and the move fits within a larger pattern of game services being retired as part of ongoing business considerations. Players are encouraged to enjoy the remaining time they have with the game and to keep an eye on future announcements regarding other titles slated for discontinuation.