Konami has officially confirmed that its Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls experience will be taken offline next month, marking the end of the title’s presence on Apple Arcade. The game, which has been available exclusively through Apple’s subscription service since its re‑launch, will be removed from the catalog on August 20. Following that removal, the servers that support the game will be shut down on September 3, at which point players will no longer be able to launch or play the title.
In a statement posted on Konami’s website, the company reflected on the game’s journey and explained the decision. “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 developers 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.” To understand why this shutdown matters, it helps to look back at the title’s origins. Grimoire of Souls first appeared in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile game for iOS and Android, initially released only in the Canadian market.
The original version featured a traditional free‑to‑play monetisation model, complete with in‑game currency, microtransactions, and a design that catered to short, on‑the‑go play sessions. After roughly a year of service, Konami discontinued the mobile version, citing a strategic shift toward a more curated experience. The game was then resurrected as part of Apple Arcade, Apple’s ad‑free, subscription‑based gaming platform.
This re‑launch arrived in September 2021 and brought several significant changes. Konami stripped away all forms of in‑game purchases, removing the virtual currency and microtransaction systems that had defined the earlier version. The visual presentation received a substantial overhaul, with higher‑resolution assets, refined character models, and smoother animations that took advantage of the more powerful hardware found in modern iOS devices, Apple TV, iPadOS, and Mac computers.
The user interface was also redesigned to provide a more seamless, console‑like experience, aligning the game with the expectations of Apple Arcade subscribers. Grimoire of Souls is a spin‑off within the long‑standing Castlevian franchise, offering players the chance to collect and command a roster of iconic characters from the series. The game’s core loop revolves around assembling teams of heroes, each with unique abilities, and sending them into procedurally generated dungeons where they battle classic monsters and bosses from the Castlevania mythos.
While the game’s mechanics are rooted in the familiar action‑RPG formula, the absence of pay‑to‑win elements in the Arcade version was intended to provide a more balanced and skill‑based environment. The decision to end service for Grimoire of Souls comes amid a broader trend of games being retired from online platforms. Konami has indicated that several other titles will also be phased out in the coming months. For example, Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour is slated to cease operations in September, followed by Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem in October, and Sony’s Destruction AllStars in November.
These shutdowns reflect the challenges of maintaining live‑service games, especially when player bases shrink or when the cost of server upkeep outweighs the benefits. For fans of Grimoire of Souls, the upcoming shutdown means that any progress made in the game will become inaccessible after September 3. Players are encouraged to finish any ongoing quests, capture final screenshots, or otherwise archive their experiences before the servers go dark. Since the game no longer supports offline play, there is no way to continue after the official termination date.
Looking ahead, the removal of Grimoire of Souls from Apple Arcade may open space for new titles to join the service. Apple Arcade continues to expand its library with fresh offerings from both established developers and indie studios, aiming to provide a diverse range of experiences without the interruptions of ads or in‑app purchases. While the loss of a beloved Castlevania spin‑off is disappointing for longtime fans, the evolving landscape of subscription gaming suggests that new, innovative projects will soon fill the gap. In summary, Konami’s Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be delisted from Apple Arcade on August 20 and will become completely unplayable after the server shutdown on September 3.
The company expressed heartfelt thanks to its community for years of support, and the game’s legacy includes a transition from a free‑to‑play mobile title to a premium, ad‑free experience on Apple’s platform. As part of a wave of upcoming service terminations across the industry, players should take the opportunity to savor their final moments in the game before it disappears permanently.