Press Release FeedGet the RSS feed
Menu

Games Press

The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother

New Gameplay Details have been Revealed to Celebrate the Start of Pre-orders

BURLINGAME, Calif. – Oct. 21, 2026 – Today, KOEI TECMO America and developer Gust in collaboration with TOHO Co, Ltd., announced The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother will be releasing March 18, 2027. In the first-ever console game adaptation of the popular franchise The Apothecary Diaries, fans will meet new characters and have the chance to play as Jinshi and Maomao (Cat) as they delve deeper into the new exclusive story that awaits them. The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother is currently in development for the Nintendo Switch™ 2, Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®5, and PC via Steam®.

In The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother, players follow Maomao as they attempt to unravel the secrets of the Five Mysteries and solve the Five Curses. As the story unfolds, Maomao will encounter a familiar cast of characters alongside brand-new faces, conceived by series author Hyuganatsu, including Yanxi, a high-ranking official in the rear palace’s Bureau of Court Etiquette, known for her accurate fortune-telling skills; Guanyu, a travelling actor; and Chenhan, a regular patron of the Verdigris House, targeted by baseless accusations and unable to defend himself effectively. In addition, Maomao will interact with characters by fulfilling quests and delivering requested items, such as medicine, which will increase her trust with each character, unlocking special side stories for fans to enjoy and discover more about their favorite characters.

Whilst players will mainly play as Maomao, they will also be able to sometimes explore the rear palace as Jinshi and Maomao (Cat), allowing them to obtain information that is inaccessible to human Maomao. For example, by taking control of Jinshi, players can use his position within the rear palace to obtain statements from people who would not speak to Maomao, whilst Maomao (Cat) can reach high places to find clues, eavesdrop on conversations, and retrieve pieces of evidence.

As the story unfolds, players will also be able to play as the Quack Doctor, and Luomen whilst concocting medicines, thereby affecting the difficulty of the associated mini-games. Finally, if fans fulfill certain conditions in each chapter, they will unlock Completion Stamps which, once all have been unlocked, will reward them with special illustrations.

Everyone who purchases a physical or digital copy of the game before March 31, 2027 will receive the “Apothecary's Starter Kit and Modest Accessory Pack” as an early purchase bonus. Please note that the content of the early purchase bonus is also included with the pre-order bonus (digital version only).

In addition to the standard edition, fans can pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition which features the base game, a Formal costume pack for Maomao and Jinshi, a Fantasy costume pack for Maomao, and a Fashion accessory pack for Maomao (Cat).

Everyone who pre-orders a digital copy of the game by March 17, 2027 will receive the “Apothecary's Tasteful Accessory Pack” as a digital pre-order bonus. Please note that the content of the early purchase bonus is also included with the pre-order bonus.

The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother is currently in development and is scheduled to release March 18, 2027 on Nintendo Switch™ 2, Nintendo Switch™ PlayStation®5, and PC Steam®. The game will include Japanese voices with English texts.

For more information on The Apothecary Diaries: The False Imperial Brother, be sure to visit the official site, subscribe to the official KOEI TECMO America YouTube channel, like us on Facebook, and follow us on X, Instagram, and Discord.

###

ABOUT KOEI TECMO AMERICA CORP.
KOEI TECMO AMERICA CORP. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds, and digital download content based in Burlingame, California. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI is best known for its Dynasty Warriors® and Samurai Warriors® franchises. TECMO is best known for the Dead or Alive®, Ninja Gaiden®, Tecmo Bowl®, and Fatal Frame® series.

©Hyuganatsu, Imagica Infos/"The Apothecary Diaries"Project

©2026 "The Apothecary Diaries" The Movie Project ©Hyuganatsu, Imagica Infos

©KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD./TOHO, CO., LTD.

©2026 Valve Corporation. Steam and the Steam logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Valve Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.

©2026 Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC. "PlayStation Family Mark", "PlayStation", "PS5 logo", "PS5", "PS4 logo", "PS4", "PlayStation Shapes Logo" and "Play Has No Limits" are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

Nintendo Switch is a trademark of Nintendo.

  1. GamingGemCraft - Legacy CollectionBring back the Flash era with this triple-stacked offering. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 21, 2026 | 4 pm BST Three Flash-era tower defense classics return in one Steam collection, rebuilt with a long list of upgrades, 9x fast-forward, and an achievement for every in-game achievement Budapest, Hungary, October 21, 2026: Armor Games Studios and Game in a...
  2. GamingStellaris'Willpower' expansion coming to sci-fi strategy game on November 23rd. STOCKHOLM – OCTOBER 21, 2026 – Paradox Interactive and Abrakam today announced that Willpower , the next major expansion for their hit sci-fi grand strategy game Stellaris , will launch on PC on November 23...
  3. GamingGloria VictisHalloween approaches in gamigo's free-to-play medieval MMORPG. This Halloween, Gloria Victis is turning one of its community managers into a giant raid boss ! From October 21 through November 4 , publisher gamigo’s free-to-play medieval MMORPG is hosting a Halloween event with special quests, seasonal rewards, and a chance for players to team up against one of the game’s own community managers...
  4. GamingPratfallConsole versions of Quad Head's co-op cave adventure coming next year. Hamburg, Germany – October 21, 2026 – Publisher Daedalic Entertainment and Leverkusen-based developer Quad Head today announced that the successful co-op cave adventure Pratfall is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2 in early 2027 ...
  5. ErenshorCompose custom songs to strengthen allies and influence combat with the Bard class. UNITED STATES, OCTOBER 2026 - A new melody resounds in the realm of Erenshor as the Bard prepares to join its roster of classes. Built around music-based abilities, the Bard’s kit offers a supportive playstyle that lets players compose customized songs, strengthen allies, and influence combat through an assortment of notes and chords...
  6. GamingFatekeeperMelee-meets-magic combat game sells 500,000 copies - and it's still in Early Access. Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany / Vienna, Austria - October 21st, 2026: Well, that escalated quickly! Fatekeeper has officially crossed the 500,000 copies sold mark, and the game is still in Early Access!...