"Schedule I: Indie Drug Dealer Sim Outselling GTA 5, Monster Hunter Wilds"

If you've been browsing Steam, Twitch, or gaming YouTube recently, you've likely come across Schedule I, an indie drug dealer simulation game that's taken the gaming world by storm. It's currently the top-selling title on Valve's platform, surpassing heavyweights like Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals after going viral across social media.

Schedule I launched just last week and quickly 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 Schedule I'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 line with his commitment, Schedule I's Post-launch Patch #4 was released on March 29, addressing several employee bugs and multiplayer issues.

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 released on the platform. At the time of writing, more players are enjoying Schedule I than Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals.

The game has also received an 'overwhelmingly positive' user review rating on Steam, with 98% of reviews being positive. Here are some 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 a meme game, its longevity remains to be seen. However, developer Tyler's life has undoubtedly been transformed by this success, and substantial content updates are on the horizon.

If you're diving into Schedule I, make sure 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.