"Schedule I Tops Steam Charts, Outselling GTA 5 and Monster Hunter Wilds"

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 surged to the top of Valve's best-sellers list, outpacing heavyweights like Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals. The game's viral spread across social media has contributed to its explosive success.

Launched just last week, Schedule I has swiftly ascended Valve's charts for both sales and player engagement. Here's the game's 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.

Developed and published by TVGS, known as Tyler, the game's creator shared his thoughts on Reddit about the overwhelming response to Schedule I's 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.”

In line with Tyler's commitment to improving the game, 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 inZOI and Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Valve ranks its top-selling games by revenue, indicating that despite its budget price, 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, 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 overwhelmingly positive, with Schedule I earning an 'overwhelmingly positive' user review rating on Steam. An impressive 98% of user reviews are positive. Here are some of the standout comments:

"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 to be seen. However, for developer Tyler, the game's success has undoubtedly transformed his life, and he is already planning substantial content updates.

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.