Konami has officially confirmed that its Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be taken offline next month, marking the end of the title’s presence on Apple Arcade. The game, which has been a part of the subscription service since its debut on the platform, will first be removed from the Apple Arcade catalog on August 20. Following that removal, the servers that support the game will be shut down on September 3, rendering the title completely unplayable for anyone who has not already downloaded it before the delisting date. In a statement posted on Konami’s corporate website, the company reflected on the game’s lifecycle and thanked its community.
"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 company went on to express sincere appreciation for the fans who have engaged with the title over the years, noting that both the development and operations teams are grateful for the enthusiasm and support that players have shown throughout the game's run. Grimoire of Souls originally debuted in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile experience available on iOS and Android devices in Canada. After a brief initial run, the game was discontinued a year later, but Konami saw an opportunity to revive it by bringing it onto Apple Arcade.
When the title was relaunched on the subscription service, it was made available across a broader range of Apple hardware, including iPhone, iPad, iPadOS, tvOS, and Mac computers. The re‑release also featured a substantial overhaul: Konami stripped out the original in‑game currency and microtransaction mechanics, introduced a cleaner user interface, and upgraded the visual fidelity to better match the capabilities of modern Apple devices. The decision to pull Grimoira of Souls from Apple Arcade aligns with a broader trend of games being retired as their underlying services become unsustainable or as strategic priorities shift.
Konami is not alone in this process; several other titles are slated for shutdown in the coming months. For instance, Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour is scheduled to cease operations in September, followed by the removal of Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem in October, and the discontinuation of Destruction AllStars in November. These closures illustrate the challenges that subscription‑based and live‑service games face when maintaining servers, providing updates, and ensuring a steady player base over extended periods. For players who have yet to experience Grimoire of Souls, the window to download and play the game is rapidly closing.
After August 20, the title will no longer appear in the Apple Arcade storefront, meaning new users will be unable to add it to their library. Existing owners who have already added the game to their Apple Arcade collection will retain access until the server shutdown on September 3, after which the game will become unplayable even if it remains installed on a device. This timeline underscores the importance of acting promptly for fans who wish to revisit the game one last time or who have been waiting to try it for the first time.
From a technical perspective, the shutdown process involves disabling the online components that power the game's multiplayer features, leaderboards, and any cloud‑saved progress. While the core single‑player experience may still be accessible locally on a device, the removal of server connectivity typically means that many of the game’s core functions are lost, effectively rendering the title inert. Konami’s announcement does not specify whether any offline mode will remain functional, but historically, titles that rely heavily on server‑side validation become entirely inoperable once the backend is turned off. The removal of Grimoire of Souls also highlights the evolving nature of the Castlevania franchise.
Since its inception in the late 1980s, the series has branched out into numerous sub‑genres, ranging from classic side‑scrolling platformers to 3D action‑adventure titles. Grimoire of Souls represented an attempt to bring the classic Castlevania formula to a mobile‑first audience, leveraging the iconic gothic aesthetic and monster‑hunting gameplay while experimenting with free‑to‑play monetization. Its transition to Apple Arcade signaled a shift toward a premium, ad‑free experience, but the eventual shutdown suggests that the title may not have achieved the long‑term engagement Konami hoped for. Fans of the series who are disappointed by the news may find solace in the fact that other Castlevania entries remain active across various platforms, including recent releases on consoles and PC.
Moreover, the legacy of Grimoire of Souls lives on through its contributions to the broader Castlevania universe, such as the introduction of new characters, lore expansions, and unique gameplay mechanics that have influenced subsequent titles. In summary, Konami’s upcoming removal of Castlevania: Grimoira of Souls from Apple Arcade is set for August 20, with a final server shutdown on September 3. The decision reflects both the natural lifecycle of live‑service games and a broader pattern of titles being retired across the industry. Players who wish to experience the game one last time should act quickly, as the opportunity to download and play will disappear soon.
Konami’s statement of gratitude underscores the company’s appreciation for its community, even as it moves on to focus on other projects within its extensive portfolio.