Konami has made public its plan to discontinue the online service for Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls in the near future. The title, which has been available solely through Apple Arcade, is slated to be removed from the subscription platform on August 20. Following that removal, the game’s servers will be shut down entirely on September 3, after which the experience will no longer be accessible to any player. In an official statement posted on the company’s website, Konami reflected on the game’s lifecycle since its debut on Apple Arcade in September 2021.
"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 announcement also included a note of appreciation for the community that has kept the game alive over the 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 company added. To understand the context of this decision, it helps to look back at the title’s origins. Grimoire of Souls first appeared in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile offering for iOS and Android, initially released only in Canada.
After a brief run, the original version was discontinued a year later. Konami then chose to revive the game as a premium, ad‑free experience on Apple Arcade, expanding its availability to iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices.
During the Apple Arcade relaunch, the developers made several notable changes. They eliminated the in‑game currency system and removed all microtransaction options, shifting the game away from a freemium model toward a pure subscription‑based experience. In addition, the visual presentation received a refresh, with updated layouts and higher‑resolution graphics that took advantage of the newer hardware capabilities of Apple’s ecosystem. Grimoire of Souls is not the only title facing an imminent shutdown.
Konami’s notice comes as part of a broader wave of service terminations across the mobile and console gaming landscape. For instance, Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour is scheduled to cease operations in September, ending its online races and events. The following month, October, will see the closure of Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem, another title that relied on continuous online connectivity. Finally, in November, the PlayStation‑exclusive Destruction AllStars will also be taken offline, marking the end of its multiplayer battles.
These shutdowns reflect a common trend in the industry where games that depend heavily on server‑side support are retired once their active player base declines or when the cost of maintaining the infrastructure outweighs the revenue generated. While such decisions can be disappointing for dedicated fans, companies often cite the need to reallocate resources toward new projects or to focus on titles with stronger growth potential. For players of Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, the upcoming deadline means that any progress, unlocked characters, or collected items will become inaccessible after September 3.
Those who wish to preserve memories of the game are encouraged to capture screenshots, record gameplay, or document their favorite moments before the servers go dark. Since the game was removed from the Apple Arcade catalog on August 20, new players will no longer have the opportunity to download it, and existing owners will lose the ability to launch it once the shutdown is complete. In summary, Konami’s decision to end support for Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls aligns with a series of upcoming service terminations across multiple platforms.
The company expressed sincere thanks to its community, acknowledging the role players have played in keeping the game alive for several years. As the final shutdown date approaches, fans are left with the chance to reminisce and celebrate the experience before it disappears from the digital realm.