Konami has officially confirmed that its Castlevania title, Grimoire of Souls, will be taken offline in the near future. The game, which has been available solely through Apple Arcade, is slated to be removed from the subscription service on August 20. Following that removal, the servers that support the game will be shut down on September 3, rendering the title unplayable for anyone who has not already downloaded it.
In a statement posted on the company’s website, Konami reflected on the game’s history and expressed appreciation for 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 thank its audience, 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 experience for iOS and Android users in Canada.
After a brief run, the title was discontinued a year later. Konami later revived the game as part of the Apple Arcade catalog, expanding its availability to iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS platforms. In this second incarnation, the developers stripped out the original in‑game currency and micro‑transaction mechanics, overhauled the user interface, and upgraded the visual presentation to better match the standards of Apple’s premium subscription service. The upcoming shutdown is part of a broader trend of titles being retired from online services as their player bases dwindle or as strategic priorities shift.
In the same announcement window, Konami also noted that several other games will follow similar fates in the months ahead. Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour is slated for termination in September, Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem will be discontinued in October, and Sony’s Destruction AllStars is set to go offline in November. These closures reflect the challenges of maintaining live‑service games that rely on continuous server support, regular updates, and a steady stream of active users. For fans of Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, the news may be disappointing, but the timeline provides a clear window to enjoy the game one last time.
Players who have not yet downloaded the title can still access it through Apple Arcade until the August 20 delisting date. After that point, the game will remain on devices that already have it installed, but any online features, such as multiplayer matchmaking or cloud‑saved progress, will cease to function once the September 3 shutdown occurs.
Offline play of the core single‑player content may still be possible, but the official support and any future updates are definitively ending. The decision to end service for Grimoire of Souls also underscores the evolving landscape of subscription‑based gaming. While Apple Arcade offers a curated selection of titles without ads or in‑app purchases, each game still requires ongoing maintenance and server costs. When a title no longer meets the financial or strategic criteria for its publisher, removal from the catalog becomes a practical solution.
Konami’s approach—communicating the schedule in advance and expressing gratitude to its community—aligns with industry best practices for handling service terminations in a transparent manner. In summary, Konami’s Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will disappear from Apple Arcade on August 20, with full server shutdown on September 3, after which the game will no longer be accessible online. The company’s statement highlighted the title’s journey from a free‑to‑play mobile launch to an Apple Arcade exclusive, noting the removal of microtransactions and visual enhancements made during its relaunch.
The closure is part of a wave of service endings that includes Mario Kart Tour, Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem, and Destruction AllStars, reflecting broader shifts in the live‑service gaming market. Players are encouraged to experience the game before the delisting date and to cherish the memories of their adventures in the Castlevania universe.