In a surprising turn of events, indie game Schedule I, a co-op crime simulation where players climb the ranks from a small-time dope pusher to a kingpin, has been accused of copyright infringement by Movie Games S.A., the developers behind The Drug Dealer Simulator series. According to a report by the Polish Press Agency on April 3, Movie Games S.A. alleges that Schedule I has infringed on their intellectual property by mimicking the plot, mechanics, and user interface of their games. However, despite the ongoing legal analysis, the community's response has been overwhelmingly in favor of Schedule I.

Schedule I’s Copyright Infringement Accuser Gets Review Bombed on Steam

The backlash against Movie Games S.A. has been swift and severe. Fans have taken to Steam to express their discontent, resulting in "Overwhelmingly Negative" and "Mostly Negative" reviews for The Drug Dealer Simulator and Drug Dealer Simulator 2, respectively. Many of these reviews criticize Movie Games S.A. for what they perceive as bullying tactics against the indie developer of Schedule I. Critics also point out the apparent hypocrisy, noting that similar games existed before without any legal challenges from Movie Games S.A.

Despite the controversy, Schedule I has enjoyed immense success since its Early Access release on PC on March 25. The game has garnered "Overwhelmingly Positive" reviews on Steam and currently ranks as the platform's 2nd top-selling game, surpassing titles like inZOI, Monster Hunter Wilds, and R.E.P.O. With an all-time peak of 459,075 concurrent players, as reported by SteamDB, Schedule I's popularity continues to soar.

At Game8, we found Schedule I to be a surprisingly addictive and rewarding experience, earning it the nickname "Breaking Bad" simulator. For a deeper dive into our thoughts on Schedule I's early access release, be sure to check out our detailed article below!