Indie Drug Dealer Sim 'Schedule I' Outpaces GTA 5, Monster Hunter Wilds in Steam Sales

If you've been active on platforms like Steam, Twitch, or gaming YouTube recently, you've likely encountered Schedule I. This indie drug dealer simulation game has skyrocketed to become the top-selling title on Valve's platform, surpassing even major titles like Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals after going viral on social media.

Schedule I was launched last week and swiftly climbed to the top of Valve’s best-selling and most-played charts. 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 Schedule I'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 initial issues, Schedule I’s Post-launch Patch #4 was released on March 29, fixing several employee bugs and multiplayer issues.

So, just how successful is Schedule I? Having come out of nowhere, it's now the top-selling game on Steam, outperforming titles ranging from The Sims competitor inZOI to 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 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 this article's publication, it boasts more active players than Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals.

The community's reception to Schedule I has been overwhelmingly positive, with a 98% positive user review rating on Steam. Here are some of the reviews:

"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 is clearly a meme game, and its long-term viability remains to be seen. However, developer Tyler's life has undoubtedly been transformed by its success, and substantial content updates are on the horizon.

If you're playing Schedule I, don't miss IGN’s Schedule I Cheats and Console Commands guide, and the Schedule I Multiplayer: How to Play Co-Op guide for an enhanced gaming experience.