The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother is the franchise’s first console game. Gust is developing the original mystery-adventure for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and PC through Steam, with an early 2027 release window.

The announcement does more than put Maomao into a licensed visual-novel format. Koei Tecmo’s first system breakdown shows explorable locations, witness interviews, ingredient gathering, medicine compounding, connected case files and confrontations in which evidence and conversation choices can change how individual stories end.

The Apothecary Diaries game quick facts

  • Official title: The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother.
  • Release window: early 2027; no exact date has been announced.
  • Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and Windows PC through Steam.
  • Developer: Gust, with Koei Tecmo America announcing the project in collaboration with TOHO.
  • Genre: mystery adventure built around investigation, medicine and deduction.
  • Confirmed language support: Japanese voices with English text.
  • Story: a new scenario conceptualized by series author Hyuganatsu.
  • Trailer: an official English announcement trailer is available from Koei Tecmo America.

The franchise’s first console game arrives in early 2027

Koei Tecmo calls The False Imperial Brother the first-ever console adaptation of The Apothecary Diaries. It is in development for an early 2027 release, but the announcement does not narrow that window to a month or day.

The official game record collects the confirmed platforms, story, systems and media. A price, edition list, preorder schedule and rating have not been published.

Platforms and English support

The confirmed platforms are Switch 2, Switch, PS5 and PC via Steam. No Xbox, PlayStation 4, macOS or mobile version appears in the announcement.

Koei Tecmo America confirms Japanese voices with English text. The company has not yet published a complete regional language table, PC requirements, performance targets, controller features or accessibility settings.

The Five Mysteries lead to the Five Curses

The story begins not long after Maomao starts working as a maidservant in the rear palace. A faceless eunuch, a storehouse that cries at night and clothing that turns red without warning become part of the Five Mysteries. Jinshi puts Maomao on the case, drawing on her medicinal knowledge and observation skills.

A later chain of incidents known as the Five Curses spreads through the capital. Maomao encounters a masked man presenting himself as the imperial younger brother, while Jinshi denies that he is the figure behind the rumors. The two sets of cases eventually connect to a secret buried for decades.

The familiar cast includes Maomao and Jinshi, while Guanyu is introduced as a traveling actor whose growing reputation brings him into Maomao’s orbit. The scenario is original to the game and was conceptualized by series author Hyuganatsu.

Maomao questions a witness beside a damaged room in The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother.
Investigation includes examining scenes, interviewing witnesses and recording clues. Image: Koei Tecmo / Gust.

How investigation works

Players can explore the rear palace, pleasure district, castle town and areas outside the city. Investigation starts at the scene, then expands through witness questions and searches for physical clues.

Testimony and evidence are recorded in Maomao’s notebook. Once enough clues are found, the game opens a review phase that uses multiple-choice prompts and a visual network of connections to reconstruct what happened.

Medicine is part of the evidence loop

Ingredient gathering and medicine compounding are active investigation tools. Maomao can leave the city to collect materials, then prepare remedies that may become evidence, reveal a new detail or help one of her friends.

That system connects her profession to the cases instead of treating alchemy as a separate crafting menu. Koei Tecmo has not announced recipe counts, inventory limits, progression trees or whether ingredients can be missed permanently.

Maomao gathers medicinal ingredients in a flower field in The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother.
Maomao can collect ingredients outside the city and compound medicines for cases or friends. Image: Koei Tecmo / Gust.

Deduction uses proof, memory and pressure

Presenting a theory is not always enough to close a case. The other person may argue back, forcing Maomao to choose an answer, present a notebook item or combine two pieces of information.

Other sequences ask players to review details remembered from a scene or calm someone with the right response before a timer expires. The official material frames these as different ways to reach the truth, not as combat encounters.

A case-files board connects testimony and evidence in The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother.
The notebook turns scattered testimony and evidence into a visible chain of clues. Image: Koei Tecmo / Gust.

Optional evidence can change a case ending

Some evidence is required to solve a case, while other clues reveal a person’s deeper motive. Finding that optional context can let the player choose between exposing a harsh truth and offering words that provide comfort.

Koei Tecmo says those decisions can influence how each story ends. The publisher has not said whether the main plot has multiple finales, whether choices carry across cases or whether there is a chapter-select system.

Maomao faces four response choices during a deduction scene in The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother.
Some confrontations ask players to choose a response under time pressure. Image: Koei Tecmo / Gust.

A Tokyo Game Show presentation is scheduled

Koei Tecmo plans a dedicated presentation on September 20, 2026, during Tokyo Game Show. The announced guests are Aoi Yuki, Takeo Otsuka and Yohei Azakami, the Japanese voices of Maomao, Jinshi and Guanyu.

That event may provide more detail, but nothing beyond the current official announcement is treated as confirmed here. Pixel Twelve’s Games hub will carry updates once Koei Tecmo publishes a date, price, editions or additional systems.

What remains unannounced

There is no exact release date, price, age rating or edition breakdown yet. The official sources also do not state total playtime, chapter count, save structure, difficulty options, multiplayer features, PC requirements or performance targets.

Wishlists are not yet available on every platform. The official site shows a Steam wishlist link, but store availability and regional purchase pages can change before launch. Follow the Games hub for confirmed updates rather than treating retailer placeholders as release information.

The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother FAQ

When does The False Imperial Brother release?

Koei Tecmo has announced an early 2027 window. No exact month, day or unlock time is confirmed.

Who is developing the game?

Gust is developing the game. Koei Tecmo America announced it in collaboration with TOHO, and series author Hyuganatsu conceptualized the original story and new characters.

Which platforms are confirmed?

Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and Windows PC through Steam are confirmed. No Xbox or mobile version has been announced.