Konami has officially confirmed that its Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls title will be taken offline next month, marking the end of the game’s presence on Apple Arcade. The removal process will unfold in two stages: first, the game will be stripped from the Apple Arcade catalog on August 20, and then, on September 3, the servers that power the experience will be shut down, rendering the game unplayable for anyone who has not already downloaded it. In a statement posted on Konami’s website, the company reflected on the game’s lifespan and the community that supported 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 message went on to thank the player base, 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." The journey of Grimoire of Souls began well before its Apple Arcade debut. The title originally arrived on the market in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play entry for iOS and Android devices, initially rolling out only in Canada.
That first incarnation featured a traditional free‑to‑play model with in‑game currency and microtransactions, allowing players to unlock characters and upgrades through purchases. After roughly a year of operation, Konami decided to discontinue the mobile version, pulling it from the storefronts in early 2020. Later that same year, the company saw an opportunity to revive the property in a different form.
In September 2021, Grimoire of Souls was relaunched as an exclusive title for Apple Arcade, making it available across a broader suite of Apple hardware, including iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV, and Mac computers. This re‑release came with a substantial overhaul: the developers stripped out the in‑game currency and all microtransaction mechanics, repositioning the game as a fully premium experience for subscribers.
They also took the chance to polish the visual presentation, updating character models, backgrounds, and UI layouts to better match the capabilities of modern Apple devices. The revamped version was well‑received by fans of the Castlevania franchise, who appreciated the ability to explore a rich, gothic world filled with classic monsters and iconic characters without the pressure of pay‑to‑win elements. Players could collect and upgrade a roster of legendary heroes such as Simon Belmont, Alucard, and Richter, each bringing unique abilities and playstyles to the action‑RPG gameplay loop. The game’s design emphasized cooperative play, allowing friends to team up in real‑time battles against waves of enemies, as well as competitive leaderboards that encouraged replayability.
Despite the positive reception, the lifecycle of subscription‑based games can be unpredictable, and Konami ultimately decided to end support for Grimoire of Souls. The decision aligns with a broader trend of several titles scheduled for shutdown in the coming months. For instance, Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour is slated to cease operations in September, followed by Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem in October, and Sony’s Destruction AllStars in November. These closures reflect the challenges of maintaining online services, especially for games that rely on continuous server upkeep and periodic content updates.
For current owners of Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, the August 20 delisting means the game will no longer appear in the Apple Arcade library for new downloads. However, those who have already installed the title will still be able to launch it until the September 3 server shutdown. After that date, any features that depend on online connectivity—such as multiplayer matchmaking, leaderboards, and cloud‑saved progress—will cease to function, effectively making the game unplayable.
Konami’s announcement underscores the importance of backing up any saved data or completing in‑game achievements before the final shutdown date. While the company has not indicated any compensation or alternative options for affected players, the statement emphasizes gratitude and acknowledges the community’s role in sustaining the game over its two‑year Apple Arcade run. In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will disappear from Apple Arcade on August 20, with its online services terminating on September 3.
The game’s history spans an initial free‑to‑play launch in 2019, a brief discontinuation, and a subsequent premium revival on Apple’s subscription platform. As part of a wave of upcoming closures across multiple publishers, Grimoire of Souls joins the list of titles that will soon be inaccessible, marking the end of an era for fans who enjoyed its blend of classic Castlevania lore and modern cooperative gameplay.