During the developer’s presentation at Tokyo Game Show 2026, it was revealed that one of the motivations for making Apothecary Diary: Brothers of the False Empire was Toho’s proposal to develop a “Atelier Series-style RPG.” Based on this concept, Gust Studio (the division in charge of all studios at Koei Tecmo) set out to create a futuristic detective adventure game.
According to Toho producer Takayuki Ohshiro, the project work based on “The Pharmacist’s Monologue” was once stalled. After tossing around several failed ideas, he pitched a concept tentatively titled Atelier Maomao to Gust executive producer Junso Hosoi. The idea was approved almost immediately, and development of the game began in earnest.
Pharmacist Diaries: Fake Empire Brothers reimagines elements of the Atelier series to solve five interconnected mysteries and lift the curse that threatens the Imperial City. As Maomao, you will gather information by exploring locations and interacting with characters. By presenting the evidence you’ve collected in conversations, you gain the trust of others, which brings you closer to solving the mystery.
The game uses a redesigned crafting system from the Atelier series: you can create medicines using healing herbs and ingredients found in the game world. The quality and type of raw materials will affect the difficulty of making mini-games and the effectiveness of the finished medicine. Players who want to focus on the detective aspect can take advantage of the automatic creation of medicines from items in their inventory.
In an interview with Push Square, Onishi pointed out that the atmosphere and tone of the Atelier series have changed over the years: early games were primarily played by female players, while more recent games have been played by a male audience. However, he believes that fans who like “Marie’s Alchemy: The Alchemist of Salburg” will also like Meowth’s Atelier.
