Konami has officially confirmed that its Apple Arcade title Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be taken offline next month, marking the end of the game's availability on the platform. The company disclosed that the game will be removed from the Apple Arcade catalog on August 20, and that its online services will be completely shut down on September 3, after which the title will no longer be playable in any capacity. In a statement posted on Konami’s official website, the publisher reflected on the game’s history and the decision to end support.
"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 message 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 title for iOS and Android, initially released only in Canada.
After a brief run, the game was discontinued a year later. Konami later revived the project by bringing it to Apple’s subscription service, Apple Arcade, where it was relaunched across iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices.
The re‑release was more than a simple port; Konami stripped out the original in‑game currency and microtransaction system, overhauled the user interface, and upgraded the visual presentation to better suit the higher‑end hardware of Apple’s ecosystem. The decision to pull the title aligns with a broader trend of older online‑dependent games being retired as their player bases dwindle and the cost of maintaining servers outweighs the benefits.
Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls joins a short list of titles slated for decommissioning in the coming months. For example, Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour is set to cease operations in September, followed by Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem in October, and Sony’s Destruction AllStars in November. Each of these shutdowns reflects the shifting priorities of publishers as they reallocate resources toward newer projects and platforms.
For fans of Grimoire of Souls, the shutdown means that any progress, unlocked characters, or customizations stored on Konami’s servers will become inaccessible after September 3. Players are encouraged to finish any remaining activities they wish to complete before the deadline. Since the game no longer features microtransactions, there are no pending purchases to worry about, but any in‑game achievements earned after the cut‑off date will be lost.
The broader Castlevania franchise remains active, with several other entries continuing to receive updates and support across various consoles and PC. Konami has indicated that while Grimoire of Souls is ending, the company remains committed to the Castlevania brand and will continue to explore new ways to bring the classic vampire‑hunting experience to both longtime fans and newcomers. In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be delisted from Apple Arcade on August 20, and its online services will be terminated on September 3, after which the game will be unplayable. Konami’s statement thanks the community for their support and acknowledges the game’s evolution from a free‑to‑play mobile title to a polished Apple Arcade exclusive.
The shutdown is part of a larger wave of game retirements that includes Mario Kart Tour, Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem, and Destruction AllStars, reflecting the industry’s ongoing cycle of launching new experiences while phasing out older, less sustainable ones. Players who wish to enjoy the game one last time should do so before the September deadline, as no further access will be possible thereafter.