Konami has officially disclosed that its title Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be taken offline next month, marking the end of the game’s presence on Apple Arcade. The removal process will occur in two stages: first, the game will be stripped from the Apple Arcade catalog on August 20, and then, on September 3, the servers that power the experience will be permanently shut down, rendering the game unplayable for anyone who has not already downloaded it. In a statement posted on the company’s website, Konami reflected on the game’s lifespan, noting that since its debut on Apple Arcade in September 2021, Grimoire of Souls has enjoyed a steady stream of support from a dedicated player base.
"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 its community, expressing sincere appreciation for the enthusiasm and loyalty shown 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 statement concluded.
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 game available on iOS and Android, initially released only in Canada. After roughly a year of operation, the original version was discontinued. The following year, Konami revived the game as part of Apple Arcade, expanding its availability to iOS, tvOS, iPadOS, and macOS platforms.
This relaunch came with a series of significant changes: the in‑game currency and micro‑transaction model were removed, the user interface was overhauled, and the graphics received a substantial upgrade to meet the expectations of Apple Arcade’s premium catalog. These adjustments were intended to provide a more polished, ad‑free experience that aligned with Apple Arcade’s subscription‑based philosophy. For a period, the game thrived, attracting both longtime fans of the Castlevania franchise and newcomers drawn by the promise of a high‑quality, cost‑free adventure.
Players could collect and summon a variety of iconic characters from the series, customize their own squads, and tackle a range of challenges that blended classic side‑scrolling action with modern RPG elements. Despite these efforts, the lifecycle of mobile and subscription‑based games is often dictated by a combination of factors, including player retention, operating costs, and strategic priorities. In recent months, Konami has signaled a broader shift in its approach to legacy titles on subscription platforms. Grimoire of Souls is not the only game slated for an imminent shutdown; several other titles are also on the horizon.
For example, Nintendo’s Mario Kart Tour is set to cease operations in September, Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem will follow in October, and Sony’s Destruction AllStars is scheduled to go offline in November. This pattern suggests a coordinated effort by multiple publishers to streamline their offerings and focus resources on newer projects or alternative revenue models. For players who have not yet downloaded Grimoira of Souls, the August 20 delisting means the game will no longer appear in the Apple Arcade storefront, and new users will be unable to start the experience. Those who have already installed the game can continue to play until the September 3 server shutdown, after which any online-dependent features—such as leaderboards, multiplayer modes, and cloud‑saved progress—will cease to function.
Offline components, if any, may remain accessible, but the core experience was built around a live service architecture, so the loss of server connectivity effectively ends the game. Konami’s decision underscores the transient nature of digital-only titles, especially those that rely on continuous backend support. While the company has not provided detailed financial or technical reasons for the closure, the statement emphasizes gratitude rather than criticism, indicating a desire to part on amicable terms with its community.
Fans of the Castlevania series can take comfort in the fact that the franchise continues to thrive through other avenues, including recent console releases and upcoming projects announced at major gaming events. In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be removed from Apple Arcade on August 20, with its online services terminating on September 3. Konami thanks its players for their support, and the shutdown aligns with a broader industry trend of retiring older subscription‑based games in favor of newer content. Players are encouraged to download the game before the delisting date if they wish to preserve any offline aspects, though the full experience will no longer be available after the server shutdown.