Konami has made public its plan to discontinue Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls next month, ending the game's availability on Apple Arcade and ultimately shutting down its online services. The title, which has been part of the Apple Arcade catalog since its debut on the platform in September 2021, will be taken off the store on August 20.
After that date, the game will remain accessible only to those who have already installed it, but the servers that support its online features will be turned off on September 3, rendering the game completely unplayable. In an official statement posted on Konami's website, the company reflected on the game's history and its decision to end support. "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 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." Grimoire of Souls originally arrived in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile title for iOS and Android, initially released only in Canada. The early version featured in‑game currency, microtransactions, and a layout that catered to short, on‑the‑go sessions typical of mobile gaming.
After a year of operation, the original mobile version was discontinued, but Konami saw an opportunity to revive the game with a more polished experience. In 2021, the title was relaunched across Apple's ecosystem—including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac—through the subscription‑based Apple Arcade service. This re‑release stripped out the original microtransaction model, removed the in‑game currency, and introduced a refreshed user interface along with enhanced graphics and performance improvements tailored to Apple's hardware.
The decision to pull Grimoire of Souls from Apple Arcade is part of a broader trend of games reaching the end of their service life as platforms evolve and player interest shifts. Konami noted that Grimoire of Souls joins a short list of titles slated for shutdown in the coming months. For instance, Nintendo's Mario Kart Tour is set to cease operations in September, followed by Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem in October, and Sony's Destruction AllStars slated for November. These closures reflect the challenges of maintaining online services for games that rely on continuous server support, regular updates, and a steady player base.
The removal of the game from Apple Arcade on August 20 means that new users will no longer be able to download it, and existing users will lose access to any future updates or bug fixes. The final shutdown on September 3 will disable all server‑side functionality, which includes multiplayer matchmaking, leaderboards, and any cloud‑based save features.
Players who have not yet completed their progress should be aware that any data stored on Konami's servers will be lost after the shutdown date. For fans of the Castlevania franchise, Grimoire of Souls offered a unique take on the series' classic gothic horror aesthetic, blending familiar characters like Dracula, Alucard, and other iconic monsters into a free‑to‑play, card‑based combat system. The game distinguished itself by allowing players to collect and upgrade a roster of characters, each with distinct abilities and skill trees, and to engage in both solo and cooperative battles.
While the original mobile version relied heavily on a monetization model that encouraged purchases for faster progression, the Apple Arcade iteration focused on providing a complete experience without additional costs, aligning with the subscription service's promise of ad‑free, no‑in‑app‑purchase gaming. The shutdown also raises questions about the preservation of digital titles that exist primarily as online services. Unlike physical releases, games that depend on external servers can become inaccessible once those services are terminated, leaving only recordings or screenshots as evidence of their existence.
Some players and preservationists argue for the importance of archiving such games, either through server emulation or by releasing offline versions, to ensure that cultural artifacts of the gaming medium are not lost. In summary, Konami's announcement signals the end of Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls' lifecycle on Apple Arcade.
The game will be removed from the storefront on August 20, and all online functionality will cease on September 3, after which the title will no longer be playable. The company expressed sincere thanks to its community for their support over the years, and the decision aligns with a series of upcoming service terminations across the industry.
Players who have enjoyed the game are encouraged to savor their memories and, if possible, capture any final moments before the servers go dark.