If you've been active on platforms like Steam, Twitch, or gaming YouTube recently, you've likely noticed the buzz around Schedule I, an indie drug dealer simulator that has surged to become the top-selling game on Valve’s platform. It's outpacing major titles such as Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals, following its viral spread across social media.
Schedule I hit the market just last week and swiftly climbed to the top of Valve’s best-selling and most-played charts. Here's the official description from the game:
From small-time dope pusher to kingpin - manufacture and distribute a range of drugs throughout the grungy city of Hyland Point. Expand your empire with properties, businesses, employees and more.
The game is the brainchild of TVGS, also known as Tyler, who shared his thoughts on Schedule I’s explosive launch on Reddit:
“Honestly it’s amazing but pretty overwhelming,” Tyler said. “I never expected this kind of response! At the moment I’m just trying to stay focused and get patches out ASAP. Also looking forward to getting started on content updates as soon as all major bugs are patched.”
In response to initial issues, Schedule I’s Post-launch Patch #4 was released on March 29, addressing several employee bugs and multiplayer issues.
So, just how successful is Schedule I? Emerging from obscurity, it has claimed the top spot on Steam's sales chart, surpassing games like the Sims competitor inZOI and Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Valve ranks its top-selling chart by revenue, indicating that the budget-priced Schedule I is generating more income than its full-priced, triple-A competitors.
In terms of player engagement, Schedule I reached a peak of 414,166 concurrent players on Steam over the weekend, placing it among the top 30 most-played games ever on the platform. At the time of writing, it boasts more active players than Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals.
The community's reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with Schedule I earning an 'overwhelmingly positive' user review rating on Steam, where 98% of reviews are positive. Here are some highlights from the community:
"A woman came up to me and asked for weed, didn't like the price I offered, proceeded to stab me with a broken glass bottle. 10/10"
"Love this game"
"I was dealing drugs in an RV and it blew up"
"Got a motel and sold some weed"
"Created a meth empire"
"Then hopped on the game"
"Really great and hilarious game. Fun game loop and hilarious fun when playing with friends. I know it is in early access but I'd like the police to be a bit more active (They could search your place, look for you even after escaping, run speed greater than the players) as well as gang warfare and a larger map. Still in its current state its brilliant. Defo a 10/10"
While Schedule I may be seen as a meme game, its future longevity remains to be seen. However, for developer Tyler, the impact is undeniable, and the promise of substantial content updates is on the horizon.
If you're diving into Schedule I, don't miss IGN’s guides on Schedule I Cheats and Console Commands, as well as Schedule I Multiplayer: How to Play Co-Op.
