Konami has officially confirmed that its title Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be taken offline next month. The game, which has been available exclusively through Apple Arcade, will first disappear from the service’s catalogue on August 20. After that date, players will no longer be able to download or access the title.
The final shutdown is scheduled for September 3, at which point the game will be completely unplayable for anyone who still has it installed. In a statement posted on Konami’s website, the company reflected on the title’s history and the decision to end its 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 developer went on to thank the 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 game for iOS and Android, initially released only in the Canadian market. That first incarnation featured in‑game currency, microtransactions, and a monetisation model typical of many mobile titles at the time. After about a year, the original version was discontinued, and Konami later revived the project as part of Apple Arcade’s curated library.
The re‑launch arrived on iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS, and it came with a suite of changes designed to align the experience with Apple Arcade’s subscription‑based, ad‑free philosophy. Key updates for the Apple Arcade version included the removal of all in‑game purchases and virtual currency, a complete overhaul of the user interface, and a visual polish that upgraded the graphics to take advantage of Apple’s hardware capabilities.
By stripping away the microtransaction layer, Konami positioned Grimoire of Souls as a fully premium experience, allowing players to explore the Castlevania universe without the pressure of pay‑to‑win mechanics. The game’s core loop revolves around collecting and upgrading a roster of classic Castlevania characters, each equipped with unique abilities and synergies that encourage strategic team building. The decision to shut down the service follows a broader trend of online‑dependent titles being retired as their player bases shrink or as companies shift resources to newer projects.
In recent months, several other games have announced similar fates. For instance, Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour is slated to end its online service in September, while Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem will follow in October. Additionally, Sony’s Destruction AllStars is set to go offline in November. These closures reflect the challenges of maintaining live‑service games that rely on continuous server support, regular content updates, and a steady stream of active users.
For fans of Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, the impending shutdown means that any progress made in the game will become inaccessible after September 3. Players are encouraged to finish any ongoing challenges, capture screenshots of their favorite moments, and, if possible, back up any saved data that may be stored locally.
However, because the game’s core functionality depends on Konami’s servers—for matchmaking, leaderboards, and certain in‑game events—once the servers are decommissioned, the title will effectively cease to function. The broader Castlevania franchise continues to thrive across multiple platforms, with recent releases such as Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls’ spiritual successor, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night remasters, and the highly anticipated Bloodlines series keeping the brand alive for both longtime enthusiasts and newcomers.
While the shutdown of Grimoire of Souls marks the end of an era for that particular incarnation, it also underscores Konami’s ongoing commitment to evolving the Castlevania legacy in ways that resonate with modern audiences. In summary, Konami’s announcement signals that the Apple Arcade‑exclusive Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be removed from the storefront on August 20 and will become completely unplayable after September 3. The company expressed sincere appreciation for the community’s support over the years and highlighted the game’s journey from a region‑locked free‑to‑play mobile title to a polished, ad‑free experience on Apple’s ecosystem. As the industry continues to see a wave of service‑based games reaching their sunset, players are reminded to cherish the memories created and to stay tuned for future Castlevania projects that will carry the series forward.