Konami has officially confirmed that its title Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will cease operations next month. The game, which has been available solely through Apple Arcade, is slated to be removed from the platform’s catalog on August 20. Following that removal, the servers that support the game will be shut down on September 3, at which point the title will no longer be playable by anyone.
In a statement posted on the company’s website, Konami reflected on the game’s history and its decision to end the service. "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 developer also took the opportunity to thank the community that kept the game alive for several years.
"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 statement added.
Grimoire of Souls originally debuted in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile title for iOS and Android, but only in the Canadian market. After a brief run, the original version was discontinued a year later. Konami then re‑introduced the game as an Apple Arcade exclusive, expanding its availability to iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac devices.
In this second incarnation, the company stripped out the in‑game currency and micro‑transaction mechanics that had been part of the initial free‑to‑play model, overhauled the user interface, and upgraded the visual fidelity to better match the expectations of Apple Arcade’s premium catalog. The decision to pull the title aligns with a broader trend of older online‑dependent games being phased out as their player bases shrink and maintenance costs rise.
Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls joins a short list of titles that Konami and other publishers have announced will be taken offline in the coming months. For instance, Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour is scheduled to end its service in September, followed by the Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem shutdown in October, and the closure of Destruction AllStars in November.
While the removal of a game can be disappointing for dedicated fans, the lifecycle of live‑service titles often includes a planned sunset phase. Maintaining servers, providing updates, and ensuring compliance with evolving platform policies can become financially untenable when the active user count drops below a sustainable threshold. In the case of Grimoire of Souls, the transition from a micro‑transaction driven free‑to‑play model to a subscription‑based Apple Arcade offering may have altered the revenue dynamics enough to prompt Konami to reassess the long‑term viability of keeping the servers online. Players who have invested time in building their collections of classic Castlevania characters and exploring the game’s gothic environments are encouraged to finish any pending activities before the September 3 deadline.
Once the servers are deactivated, any progress, unlocks, or in‑game purchases will become inaccessible, as the title relies entirely on cloud‑based services for its functionality. The broader Castlevania franchise continues to thrive through new releases and remastered editions on consoles and PC, ensuring that the series’ legacy endures despite the closure of specific spin‑off experiences like Grimoire of Souls. Fans can look forward to upcoming titles that explore different facets of the franchise’s rich mythology, while also revisiting classic entries that have been re‑released on modern hardware. In summary, Konami’s announcement signals the end of an era for Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls on Apple Arcade.
The game will be delisted on August 20, and its online components will be permanently disabled on September 3, rendering it unplayable thereafter. The company expressed sincere appreciation for the community’s support over the years and placed the shutdown within the context of a larger wave of service terminations affecting several other mobile and console titles. Players are advised to wrap up any remaining gameplay before the cutoff date and to stay tuned for future Castlevania projects that will continue to expand the series’ storied universe.