If you've been browsing Steam, Twitch, or gaming YouTube recently, chances are you've stumbled upon Schedule I, the indie drug dealer simulation game that has skyrocketed to the top of Valve's charts. It's currently outselling and outplaying major titles like Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals after going viral on social media.
Schedule I hit the market last week and swiftly climbed to the top of Valve's best-selling and most-played lists. Here’s the official description:
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 developed and published by TVGS, known as Tyler, who recently shared his thoughts on Reddit about the game's explosive launch.
“Honestly, it’s amazing but pretty overwhelming,” Tyler admitted. “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 line with this, Schedule I released Post-launch Patch #4 on March 29, addressing numerous employee bugs and multiplayer issues.
So, just how successful is Schedule I? Emerging from obscurity, it has become the top-selling game on Steam, surpassing everything from inZOI to Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Valve ranks its top-selling chart by revenue, indicating that the budget-priced Schedule I is not only selling exceptionally well but also generating more revenue than its pricier, triple-A competitors.
In terms of player engagement, Schedule I reached a peak of 414,166 concurrent players on Steam over the weekend. This places 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 response has been overwhelmingly positive, with Schedule I earning an 'overwhelmingly positive' user review rating on Steam. An impressive 98% of user reviews are positive. Here are a few highlights:
"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, it's brilliant. Defo a 10/10"
While Schedule I may be seen as a meme game, its longevity remains uncertain. However, for developer Tyler, the impact on his life is undeniable, and substantial content updates are on the horizon.
If you're diving into Schedule I, don't miss IGN’s Schedule I Cheats and Console Commands guide, and Schedule I Multiplayer: How to Play Co-Op guide for an enhanced gaming experience.
