{"id":9752,"date":"2026-09-12T10:17:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-12T02:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/apothecary-diaries-false-imperial-brother-switch-2-ps5-early-2027\/"},"modified":"2026-09-12T10:17:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T02:17:09","slug":"apothecary-diaries-false-imperial-brother-switch-2-ps5-early-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/apothecary-diaries-false-imperial-brother-switch-2-ps5-early-2027\/","title":{"rendered":"Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother \u2014 Early 2027 on Switch 2 and PS5"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Maomao is finally getting a game of her own. Koei Tecmo and developer Gust \u2014 the studio behind the Atelier series \u2014 have announced <strong>The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother<\/strong>, the first-ever console game based on the beloved mystery series. It&#8217;s coming to Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam in early 2027, with a worldwide release and English-language support confirmed.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gt-video\">\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/amdOkW4uKxA\" title=\"The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother - Announcement Trailer\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0;\" allow=\"accelerometer;clipboard-write;encrypted-media;gyroscope;picture-in-picture;web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><figcaption>The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother &#8211; Announcement Trailer \u2014 via KOEI TECMO AMERICA on YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>A New Original Mystery in the Imperial Court<\/h2>\n<p>The game isn&#8217;t an adaptation of existing manga or light novel chapters \u2014 it&#8217;s a wholly new story written by the series&#8217; original author, Natsu Hyuuga, specifically for this release. Maomao, the sharp-eyed apothecary working in the rear palace, is tasked with unravelling two interlocking chains of strangeness: the Five Mysteries and the Five Curses, a set of bizarre incidents spreading from the imperial palace into the pleasure district and city streets beyond.<\/p>\n<p>At the heart of the conspiracy stands a masked figure who claims to be the imperial court&#8217;s long-lost younger brother. Who he really is \u2014 and what secret he carries that could bring the entire imperial court crashing down \u2014 is the thread Maomao will have to pull. Returning fan favourite Jinshi is along for the investigation, joined by Guanyu, a travelling actor introduced as a new character for this game.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/apothecary-diaries-maomao-closeup.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Maomao close-up in The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><figcaption>Image courtesy of Koei Tecmo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Investigate, Craft Medicine, and Deduce Your Way to the Truth<\/h2>\n<p>The gameplay loops through three connected phases that map naturally onto what Maomao actually does in the story. During the <strong>Investigation phase<\/strong>, players explore fully 3D environments \u2014 from palace courtyards to mountain trails \u2014 gathering clues, interviewing witnesses, and collecting medicinal ingredients. The open-world herb-hunting shown in early screenshots looks surprisingly lush for a game of this type, with Gust&#8217;s experience in environmental art from the Atelier series showing through clearly.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/apothecary-diaries-ingredient-gathering.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Maomao gathering ingredients in a flower field in The Apothecary Diaries game\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><figcaption>Image courtesy of Koei Tecmo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Those ingredients feed into the <strong>Pharmaceutical Crafting phase<\/strong>, where players mix materials to produce remedies \u2014 a system that will feel at home alongside Gust&#8217;s long history of crafting mechanics. The final phase, <strong>Deduction<\/strong>, has players organising clues in Maomao&#8217;s notebook and presenting carefully chosen evidence to convince other characters of their conclusions. It&#8217;s a rhythm that fans of Ace Attorney or Professor Layton will recognise immediately, filtered through The Apothecary Diaries&#8217; imperial-court setting.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/apothecary-diaries-open-world-exploration.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Maomao exploring a 3D outdoor environment in The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><figcaption>Image courtesy of Koei Tecmo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Gust and Koei Tecmo, With TOHO Games Alongside<\/h2>\n<p>Gust \u2014 the Koei Tecmo internal studio responsible for the Atelier and Blue Reflection series \u2014 is handling development, working in collaboration with TOHO Games. It&#8217;s an interesting partnership: TOHO Games has handled tie-in titles across popular anime properties before, while Gust brings the production pedigree to render the imperial court in the distinctive anime-shaded 3D style visible in the screenshots. The result looks considerably more ambitious than the usual light-novel game tie-in.<\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/apothecary-diaries-investigation-scene.jpg?w=474&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Maomao investigating a scene alongside a court lady in The Apothecary Diaries game\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\"><figcaption>Image courtesy of Koei Tecmo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Platforms, Window, and What&#8217;s Coming at TGS 2026<\/h2>\n<p>The game launches in <strong>early 2027<\/strong> on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC (Steam) worldwide. Supported languages include Japanese, English, and Simplified and Traditional Chinese \u2014 so Singapore fans can pick up a physical PS5 or Switch copy from local game retailers or digital, with no import headaches. A <a href=\"https:\/\/store.steampowered.com\/app\/4905780\/The_Apothecary_Diaries_The_False_Imperial_Brother\/\">Steam page is already live<\/a> and the game will appear at <strong>Tokyo Game Show 2026 on 20 September<\/strong>, where Koei Tecmo has promised more detailed information alongside appearances from voice actors Aoi Yuki (Maomao), Takeo Otsuka (Jinshi), and Yohei Azakami (Guanyu).<\/p>\n<p>The timing makes sense for a series that keeps growing. <strong>The Apothecary Diaries Season 3<\/strong> \u2014 a two-cour continuation \u2014 premieres 2 October 2026 on Crunchyroll, meaning Singapore fans will be entering the new anime season just as buzz around the franchise is peaking. An official game with a new story from the original author landing in the same period is exactly the kind of event tie-in the community has been waiting for. You can browse all our <a href=\"\/blog\/category\/manga-anime\/\">anime and manga coverage here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><!--GT-SCOUT source=\"Web (English)\" theme=\"Anime\" flags=\"none\"--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Koei Tecmo and Gust announce The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother, a mystery adventure game with original story by series author Natsu Hyuuga, coming to Switch 2, Switch, PS5 and PC in early 2027.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":9747,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":[]},"categories":[11,25],"tags":[574,406,88,45,64,1166],"class_list":["post-9752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-game-news","category-manga-anime","tag-apothecary-diaries","tag-gust","tag-koei-tecmo","tag-nintendo-switch-2","tag-ps5","tag-the-apothecary-diaries"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/apothecary-diaries-false-imperial-brother-key-art.jpg?fit=460%2C215&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p13AlF-2xi","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9515,"url":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/atelier-karia-release-date-february-2027\/","url_meta":{"origin":9752,"position":0},"title":"Atelier Karia Gets a Release Date \u2014 25 February 2027, New Trailer Out","date":"September 9, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Koei Tecmo and Gust have locked in 25 February 2027 as the worldwide release date for Atelier Karia: The Night Kingdom & the Guide of Memories, coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC (Steam).","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Game News&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Atelier-Karia-Date_09-08-26-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6759,"url":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/blue-reflection-quartet-out-now-ps5-switch-2-pc-2026\/","url_meta":{"origin":9752,"position":1},"title":"Blue Reflection Quartet Is Out Now \u2014 Four Games, Two Console Debuts, One Bundle","date":"July 30, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"All four Blue Reflection games are available now on PS5, Switch 2, Switch, and Steam \u2014 including the console debuts of RAY and SUN, both rebuilt with new content for their platform debut.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Game News&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/blue-reflection-quartet-key-visual.png?fit=1200%2C750&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4008,"url":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/blue-reflection-quartet-pre-orders-july-30\/","url_meta":{"origin":9752,"position":2},"title":"Blue Reflection Quartet Pre-Orders Are Live \u2014 All Four Games in One, Out July 30","date":"June 23, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Koei Tecmo and Gust have opened digital pre-orders for Blue Reflection Quartet, a collection bundling all four Blue Reflection titles, launching July 30 on PS5, Switch 2, Switch, and PC Steam.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Game News&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/blue-reflection-quartet-cover.jpg?fit=580%2C716&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4647,"url":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/attack-on-titan-3-ps5-switch-2-steam-omega-force\/","url_meta":{"origin":9752,"position":3},"title":"Attack on Titan 3 Confirmed \u2014 PS5, Switch 2 and PC via Steam","date":"July 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Koei Tecmo and Omega Force confirm Attack on Titan 3 for PS5, Switch 2, Xbox, and PC \u2014 the first new AoT game in seven years, with English text support and a MAPPA-produced opening.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Game News&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/aot3-keyart.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3337,"url":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/attack-on-titan-3-announced-ps5-switch-2-pc\/","url_meta":{"origin":9752,"position":4},"title":"Attack on Titan 3 Announced \u2014 Full Saga Coming to PS5, Switch 2 and PC","date":"June 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Koei Tecmo and Omega Force have officially announced Attack on Titan 3, covering the complete saga on PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series, and PC. Here's what we know.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Game News&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/attack-on-titan-3-key-art.png?fit=1106%2C622&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9196,"url":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wo-long-fallen-dynasty-switch-2-complete-edition\/","url_meta":{"origin":9752,"position":5},"title":"Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition Lands on Switch 2","date":"September 3, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Team NINJA's dark Three Kingdoms action RPG is out now on Nintendo Switch 2 as a Complete Edition with all DLC included, and Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember is already in development for early 2027.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Game News&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/wo-long-switch2-key-art.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9752"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9752"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9752\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9747"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gametrader.sg\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}