During a developer talk at Tokyo Game Show 2026, it was revealed that one of the catalysts for the creation of The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother was an idea from Toho to make “an RPG in the style of the Atelier series.” Using this concept as a springboard, Koei Tecmo’s studio Gust created what would become the upcoming mystery adventure game.
According to Toho producer Takayuki Onishi, there was a time when the project to produce an Apothecary Diaries game faced difficulties moving forward. Amidst several failed ideas, he proposed what he called “Atelier Maomao” (an Apothecary Diaries game in the style of the Atelier RPGs) to Gust executive producer Junso Hosoi. The idea received almost immediate approval, and work on the game officially began.
The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother takes elements from the Atelier series and refocuses them toward solving five interconnected mysteries and curses that plague the Royal Capital. As Maomao, you gather information by exploring areas and talking to people. By presenting the evidence you gather, you engage in conversations that earn you credibility, which leads you closer to solving the mysteries.
The False Imperial Brother repurposes the Atelier series’ synthesis system by allowing you to create medicines using medicinal herbs and ingredients found throughout the world. Ingredient quality and variety affect the difficulty of the crafting minigames as well as the potency of the concocted medicine. Those who want to focus more on the game’s mystery-solving elements can also auto-craft medicines using the items in their inventory.
In a Push Square interview, Onishi noted that the atmosphere and tone of the Atelier series have changed over the years, with the initial games’ predominantly female fanbase contrasting with the male-dominated fanbase of the latter titles. However, he predicts that female fans who enjoyed Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg (the first game in the series) will likewise enjoy The False Imperial Brother.
Featuring an original story concept by series creator Hyuganatsu, The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother is set to release in Early 2027 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 1 and 2, and PC (Steam).
