Konami has confirmed that its Apple Arcade title, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, will be taken offline next month. The company’s official statement indicates that the game will be removed from the Apple Arcade catalogue on August 20, and that all online services supporting the title will be terminated on September 3, after which the game will no longer be accessible to players.
In a brief announcement posted on Konami’s website, the publisher reflected on the title’s history and 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 message went on to thank the fanbase, 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." Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls originally debuted in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile experience for iOS and Android users in Canada. The initial version featured in‑game currency, microtransactions, and a design optimized for touch screens.
After a year of operation, the mobile iteration was discontinued, but Konami saw an opportunity to revive the project on Apple’s subscription platform. In September 2021, the game was relaunched as an Apple Arcade exclusive, appearing on iPhone, iPad, iPadOS, tvOS, and macOS devices. The Apple Arcade re‑release brought a number of significant changes. Konami eliminated the original in‑game currency system and removed all microtransaction options, aligning the title with the subscription‑based, ad‑free ethos of Apple Arcade.
The developers also took the chance to overhaul the user interface, streamline level layouts, and enhance the visual fidelity of the game. Updated graphics, higher resolution textures, and smoother animations were introduced to better suit the higher‑end hardware of modern Apple devices. Grimoire of Souls is not the only Konami title slated for discontinuation in the near future. The company’s recent communications reveal a broader trend of games being phased out as part of a scheduled shutdown plan.
Mario Kart Tour, the popular mobile racing game from Nintendo, is set to cease operations in September. Following that, the Warner Bros.
title Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem will be taken offline in October, and Sony’s Destruction AllStars will follow in November. These announcements illustrate a wave of closures affecting a variety of platforms and genres. For players who have invested time in Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls, the upcoming shutdown means that any progress made after the delisting date will be lost once the servers are shut down. Because the game relies on online connectivity for core features such as multiplayer battles, leaderboards, and content updates, there is no offline mode that would allow continued play after September 3.
Konami has not indicated any plans to release a standalone offline version or to make the title available through other distribution channels. The decision to end support for Grimoire of Souls likely reflects a combination of factors, including the cost of maintaining server infrastructure, the relatively niche audience for a subscription‑only Castlevania spin‑off, and the natural lifecycle of mobile and streaming games. While the title received praise for its polished combat system, faithful homage to the classic Castlevania aesthetic, and the removal of pay‑to‑win mechanics in its Apple Arcade incarnation, it never achieved the same level of mainstream popularity as flagship entries in the franchise.
Fans of the series who are disappointed by the closure have several options to continue enjoying the Castlevania universe. Konami still supports a number of other titles across consoles and PC, including the critically acclaimed Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and the recent Metroid‑vania style release Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls Remastered, which is expected to launch on major platforms later this year. Additionally, the company’s broader catalog includes titles like Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, which was developed by former Konami staff and offers a similar gothic, action‑RPG experience. In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be removed from Apple Arcade on August 20, and its online services will be fully terminated on September 3, rendering the game unplayable thereafter.
Konami expressed appreciation for the community that supported the game over its two‑year run on the subscription service, and it joins a list of upcoming game shutdowns that include Mario Kart Tour, Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem, and Destruction AllStars. Players are encouraged to finish any remaining in‑game activities before the cut‑off dates and to explore other titles in the Castlevania franchise for continued gothic adventure.