"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 might have noticed the buzz around Schedule I. This indie drug dealer simulator has skyrocketed to the top of Valve's best-sellers list, outpacing heavyweights such as Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals following its viral spread across social media.

Launched just last week, Schedule I has swiftly climbed to the top tiers of 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.

The game is the brainchild of developer and publisher TVGS, known simply as Tyler. In a recent Reddit post, Tyler expressed his astonishment at the game's reception, saying:

“Honestly, it’s amazing but pretty overwhelming. 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 this commitment, Schedule I's Post-launch Patch #4 was released on March 29, addressing several employee-related bugs and multiplayer issues.

So, how successful is Schedule I? Emerging from obscurity, it has become the top-selling game on Steam, surpassing titles ranging from the Sims competitor inZOI to Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Valve ranks its top-selling chart based on revenue, indicating that the budget-priced Schedule I is generating more income than its pricier, triple-A competitors.

In terms of player numbers, Schedule I reached a peak of 414,166 concurrent players on Steam over the weekend, securing a spot in the top 30 most-played games ever on the platform. At the time of writing, it continues to outdraw Monster Hunter Wilds, GTA 5, and Marvel Rivals in terms of active players.

The game has also received overwhelmingly positive feedback on Steam, with a 98% positive user review rating. Here are some standout comments from players:

"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. Definitely a 10/10."

While Schedule I may be categorized as a meme game, its staying power remains to be seen. However, developer Tyler's life has undoubtedly been transformed, and fans can look forward to substantial content updates.

For those diving into Schedule I, be sure to check out IGN’s guides on Schedule I Cheats and Console Commands, as well as Schedule I Multiplayer: How to Play Co-Op for an enhanced gaming experience.