Konami has officially confirmed that its Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will cease operations next month, marking the end of the title’s presence on Apple Arcade. The game will be taken off the subscription platform on August 20, after which it will become completely inaccessible on September 3, meaning that players will no longer be able to launch or play the experience once that date passes. In a statement posted on Konami’s corporate website, the company reflected on the game’s lifecycle. "Since its debut on Apple Arcade in September 2021, the title has enjoyed steady support from a dedicated player base," the announcement read.
"Nevertheless, we have made the decision to discontinue the service as of September." The developer also took the opportunity to thank its community. "We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all of our players for their enthusiastic support over the years. The entire development and operations team sincerely thanks you for being part of this journey," the message continued. To understand the context, it helps to look back at the title’s origins.
Grimoire of Souls first appeared in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile game available on iOS and Android, initially released only in the Canadian market. After roughly a year of service, the original version was retired. Konami then opted to resurrect the game in a new form, bringing it to Apple Arcade in September 2021 and expanding its availability to iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
The Apple Arcade iteration was more than a simple port. Konami removed all in‑game currency and micro‑transaction mechanics that had been present in the free‑to‑play model, opting instead for a pure, subscription‑based experience. The company also overhauled the user interface, refined level layouts, and upgraded the visual fidelity to take advantage of Apple’s hardware capabilities. These changes were intended to give both longtime fans and newcomers a smoother, more polished rendition of the Castlevania universe.
Despite these improvements, the title’s player numbers gradually tapered, a common trend for many live‑service games as they age. As Konami evaluates its portfolio, it has identified several other titles that will also be retired in the near future. Mario Kart Tour, another mobile racing game, is slated for shutdown in September.
Following that, Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem will be taken offline in October, and Destruction AllStars is scheduled to end service in November. The decision to pull a game from service is never taken lightly, especially when it involves a beloved franchise like Castlevania. However, maintaining servers, providing updates, and handling customer support for legacy titles can become financially untenable when the active user base shrinks.
By consolidating resources, Konami aims to focus on new projects and ongoing franchises that promise stronger engagement and revenue potential. For players who have invested time in Grimoire of Souls, the upcoming shutdown means they should finish any ongoing progress before the September 3 deadline. Since the game will no longer be downloadable after August 20, those who have not yet installed it will lose the chance to experience it altogether.
Konami has not announced any compensation or migration path for existing players, which is typical for titles that were offered as part of a subscription service rather than a purchased product. Looking ahead, the Castlevania brand remains a cornerstone of Konami’s identity, with new entries and remakes continuing to appear across consoles and PC.
Fans can anticipate future releases that explore different eras and gameplay styles within the vampire‑hunting mythos. While Grimoire of Souls will soon become a part of the company’s history, its legacy lives on through the memories of those who explored its gothic dungeons and battled iconic monsters. In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be removed from Apple Arcade on August 20, 2024, and will cease to function entirely on September 3, 2024.
Konami has expressed gratitude to its community and has outlined a broader plan to retire several other live‑service games over the coming months. Players are encouraged to savor any remaining time with the title before it disappears from the platform.