If you've been keeping up with gaming platforms like Steam, Twitch, or YouTube, you've likely come across the buzz surrounding Schedule I. This indie drug dealer simulation game has skyrocketed to the top of Steam's sales charts, outpacing heavyweights such as Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals, thanks to its viral spread across social media.
Launched just last week, Schedule I quickly climbed to the top of Valve's best-selling and most-played lists. The game's official description reads:
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.
Schedule I is both developed and published by TVGS, known as Tyler, who recently shared his thoughts on the game'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 player feedback, Schedule I's Post-launch Patch #4 was released on March 29, addressing several employee bugs and multiplayer issues.
The success of Schedule I is undeniable. Despite being a new release, it's now the top-selling game on Steam, surpassing even high-profile titles like inZOI and Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Valve ranks its top sellers by revenue, and the budget-priced Schedule I is generating more income than many full-priced AAA games.
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 game's community is thrilled, as evidenced by its 'overwhelmingly positive' user review rating on Steam, with 98% of reviews being positive. Here are a few highlights from player feedback:
"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 considered a meme game, its future remains bright. Developer Tyler is set to continue enhancing the game with substantial content updates, ensuring a lasting impact on the gaming community.
For those diving into Schedule I, don't miss IGN’s comprehensive guides on Schedule I Cheats and Console Commands, as well as Schedule I Multiplayer: How to Play Co-Op, to maximize your gaming experience.