Konami has made public its plan to discontinue Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls next month, ending the game’s availability on Apple Arcade and ultimately taking it offline. 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, players will no longer be able to download or purchase the game. The final shutdown is scheduled for September 3, at which point the servers will be turned off and the game will become completely unplayable, even for those who already have it installed.
In a statement posted on Konami’s official website, the company acknowledged the game’s long‑standing fan base and the support it has received over the years. “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 developer also took the opportunity 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 title for iOS and Android devices, but only in the Canadian market. After a brief run, the mobile version was discontinued a year later.
Konami later revived the game as a premium, subscription‑free offering on Apple Arcade, expanding its reach to iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac users. The relaunch involved a thorough overhaul: in‑game currency and micro‑transactions were stripped out, the user interface was redesigned for better navigation, and the visual fidelity received a notable boost, giving the game a more polished, modern appearance. The decision to pull Grimoire of Souls from Apple Arcade is part of a broader trend of titles reaching the end of their service lives. Konami has indicated that several other games are slated for similar fates in the coming months.
For example, the popular mobile racing title Mario Kart Tour is set to cease operations in September. Following that, the cartoon‑themed shooter Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem will be taken offline in October, and the vehicular combat game Destruction AllStars is scheduled for shutdown in November. These closures reflect the challenges of maintaining online services for games that rely on continuous server support, especially when player numbers dwindle or strategic priorities shift.
For fans of Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, the impending shutdown means that any progress, unlocked characters, or collected items will become inaccessible after September 3. Players who wish to preserve their memories of the game are encouraged to capture screenshots, record gameplay footage, or take note of any achievements before the servers are decommissioned.
While the game will no longer be playable, its legacy lives on as part of the broader Castlevania franchise, which has spanned decades and produced numerous acclaimed entries across consoles, handhelds, and mobile platforms. The removal of the title from Apple Arcade also has implications for the subscription service itself. Apple Arcade curates a rotating library of exclusive games, and each title’s lifespan can vary based on licensing agreements, development costs, and user engagement metrics.
When a game is delisted, it no longer counts toward the catalog, potentially making room for new releases to keep the service fresh and appealing to subscribers. In summary, Konami’s announcement signals the final chapter for Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls on Apple Arcade. The game will be delisted on August 20, and its online components will be shut down on September 3, rendering it unplayable. The company expressed sincere thanks to its player community and highlighted the game’s evolution from a free‑to‑play mobile title to a refined Apple Arcade exclusive.
This shutdown is part of a series of upcoming service terminations that include Mario Kart Tour, Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem, and Destruction AllStars, underscoring the dynamic nature of the mobile and subscription‑based gaming landscape.