If you've been browsing Steam, Twitch, or gaming YouTube recently, you've likely encountered Schedule I, an indie drug dealer simulator that has skyrocketed to the top of Valve's sales charts. This viral sensation has outpaced major titles like Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals, drawing in players from all corners of the gaming community.
Schedule I hit the market last week and quickly 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 the brainchild of TVGS, also known as Tyler, who shared his thoughts on Reddit about the game's explosive launch:
“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.”
To address some of the issues, Schedule I's Post-launch Patch #4 was released on March 29, resolving several employee bugs and multiplayer issues.
But just how successful is Schedule I? It has emerged from obscurity to become the top-selling game on Steam, surpassing even titles like inZOI and Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Valve's top-selling chart is sorted by revenue, indicating that the budget-priced Schedule I is generating more income 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, securing a spot in 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 has also earned an 'overwhelmingly positive' user review rating on Steam, with 98% of reviews being 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."
Schedule I has clearly captured the gaming community's attention as a meme game. While its long-term viability remains to be seen, developer Tyler is undoubtedly experiencing a life-changing moment, with significant content updates on the horizon.
If you're diving into Schedule I, don't forget to check out IGN's Schedule I Cheats and Console Commands guide, as well as the Schedule I Multiplayer: How to Play Co-Op guide for a more enriched gaming experience.
