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

If you've been browsing Steam, Twitch, or gaming-related YouTube channels recently, you've likely encountered the buzz around Schedule I, an indie drug dealer simulation game 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, capturing the attention of gamers everywhere.

Schedule I was launched just last week and has swiftly 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.

The game 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. I’m also looking forward to starting 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, tackling several employee-related bugs and multiplayer problems.

So, how successful is Schedule I? Remarkably so. It has surged to the top of Steam's sales charts, surpassing games like inZOI and Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Valve ranks its top-selling chart by revenue, indicating that Schedule I, despite its budget price, is generating more revenue than its pricier AAA competitors.

In terms of player engagement, Schedule I reached a peak of 414,166 concurrent players on Steam over the weekend, placing it 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 received an 'overwhelmingly positive' user review rating on Steam, with 98% of reviews being 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 considered a meme game, its future longevity remains to be seen. However, developer Tyler's life has undoubtedly changed, and players can look forward to substantial content updates.

For those diving into Schedule I, don't miss IGN's guides on Schedule I Cheats and Console Commands and Schedule I Multiplayer: How to Play Co-Op.