This year’s biggest indie game hit is a drug-dealing simulator

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Introduction:

The news topic “This year’s biggest indie game hit is a drug-dealing simulator” has drawn international attention, with various media outlets providing diverse insights, historical context, political stances, and on-the-ground developments. Below is a curated overview of how different countries and media organizations have covered this topic recently.

Quick Summary:

• “Schedule 1” is a drug-dealing business simulator. The game peaked in April at nearly 460,000 concurrent players on Steam. It was ranked No. 1 on Steam after its release and held the top spot for more than two weeks. Game is so popular that similarly-named games have shot to the top of the PlayStation store as console gamers search for it.. Movie Games SA published “Drug Dealer Simulator” in 2020. The company said it was investigating similar games for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but did not say if it was related to “Schedule I” The game is a “tycoon game,” also known as a business simulation game. It lets players take on the role of a business owner, developing their own employees and customer base. It is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.
• “Schedule 1” is a drug-dealing business simulator. The game peaked in April at nearly 460,000 concurrent players on Steam. It was ranked No. 1 on Steam after its release and held the top spot for more than two weeks. It is so popular that similarly-named games have shot to the top of the PlayStation store as console gamers search for it. The full game is still in development, the developer says.. The video game is a “tycoon game,” which is also known as a business simulation game. Popular examples of tycoon games are “RollerCoaster Tycoon” and “Cities: Skylines.” Tycoon games are especially popular with children on Roblox, which can attract thousands of players and make millio. It’s not clear when the game will be released on console. The developer said on X that any game appearing on the PlayStation Store with “schedule1” in the title is not affiliated with them.
• Australian indie studio Tyler’s Video Game Studio released “Schedule 1” on March 24, 2025. By April 6, 2025, the game’s player count peaked at 455,652. Within one month of hitting that lofty figure, nearly 80% of its players had left. The game isn’t even set to come out properly for a few more years. But there are some promising signs for the future of the game, which is still an early access title. It’s not the first game to lose so much steam in such a short time.

Country-by-Country Breakdown:

Original Coverage

“Schedule 1” is a drug-dealing business simulator. The game peaked in April at nearly 460,000 concurrent players on Steam. It was ranked No. 1 on Steam after its release and held the top spot for more than two weeks. Game is so popular that similarly-named games have shot to the top of the PlayStation store as console gamers search for it.. Movie Games SA published “Drug Dealer Simulator” in 2020. The company said it was investigating similar games for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but did not say if it was related to “Schedule I” The game is a “tycoon game,” also known as a business simulation game. It lets players take on the role of a business owner, developing their own employees and customer base. It is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Read full article

This year’s biggest indie game hit is a drug-dealing simulator

“Schedule 1” is a drug-dealing business simulator. The game peaked in April at nearly 460,000 concurrent players on Steam. It was ranked No. 1 on Steam after its release and held the top spot for more than two weeks. It is so popular that similarly-named games have shot to the top of the PlayStation store as console gamers search for it. The full game is still in development, the developer says.. The video game is a “tycoon game,” which is also known as a business simulation game. Popular examples of tycoon games are “RollerCoaster Tycoon” and “Cities: Skylines.” Tycoon games are especially popular with children on Roblox, which can attract thousands of players and make millio. It’s not clear when the game will be released on console. The developer said on X that any game appearing on the PlayStation Store with “schedule1” in the title is not affiliated with them. Read full article

Schedule 1 Took Only A Month To Lose 78% Of Its Playerbase

Australian indie studio Tyler’s Video Game Studio released “Schedule 1” on March 24, 2025. By April 6, 2025, the game’s player count peaked at 455,652. Within one month of hitting that lofty figure, nearly 80% of its players had left. The game isn’t even set to come out properly for a few more years. But there are some promising signs for the future of the game, which is still an early access title. It’s not the first game to lose so much steam in such a short time. Read full article

‘Schedule 1’ Final Release Is Three Years Away According to Its Developer – First Major Update Will Be Community-Voted

The creator behind Schedule 1 opened up about the game’s development during a livestream and detailed what players can expect in the next year. However, it seems like the drug-dealer sim is still far from its final release. The first major update of Schedule 1 will be voted on by the community. Players will have a choice between “cartel interactions,” “police raids,’ or the debut of “Mushrooms” as a new drug. The indie developer also admitted that progress on the game has been a little slower than expected post-launch, due to him being “in meetings constantly.’’ ‘Schedule 1’ Final Release is still “two to three years away.” A Steam Deck version of the game shoots for May or June 2025. Uncle Nelson will play a big role in the game’s story, eventually. Read full article

Schedule 1 is the best life sim I’ve played in years, partly because it reminds me of the greatest mode in Garry’s Mod

Schedule 1 is Steam’s fourth most-played game, with 122,500 players on a Tuesday morning. It’s a committed exploration of the emergent routines that have made role-play in Garry’s Mod and GTA 5 so popular. The game could be about anything – a plumbing sim, carpentry RPG, you name it – and it would still be fun, thanks to the way it frames near-ritualistic busywork within a limited timeframe each day. It offers the best simulator experience I’ve played in a long time, and it’s free to download and play for free on the PC, Mac and PC. The best part of the game is the little things, like playing Pong and Snake on the TV in your seedy motel room, or drawing the curtains shut to keep out the sun. You can grow and deal for a small clientele, all while saving up to buy an apartment above a nearby Chinese restaurant. Read full article

I Dove Into Both ‘Schedule 1’ and ‘Drug Dealer Simulator’ After the Controversy Started: Which One Takes The Coke… I Mean, the Cake?

Schedule I came out of nowhere and quickly dominated the Steam Charts as the indie darling of the first half of the year. While Drug Dealer Simulator has been available since 2020, it’s been in the headlines more now than it ever has before. Neither of these games does anything particularly special over the other. Except that the premise of both games is extremely similar. But to that point, there have been plenty of games that follow the same type of gameplay loop, especially on mobile marketplaces. To be honest, I thought that the game would be loads better. It was shocking when I loaded into what felt like an Unreal Engine asset flip, with gritty textures, and a whole lot of “fuck” Oh, yeah, it’s edgy over here in Drug Dealer Simulation, so fucking watch your fucking fingers, or you may get fucked up. It has its charming aspects, to be fair. The music is quite good at setting the mood. But it’s also easy to see how Schedule 1 overtook this one by a longshot. Read full article

Global Perspectives Summary:

Global media portray this story through varied cultural, economic, and political filters. While some focus on geopolitical ramifications, others highlight local impacts and human stories. Some nations frame the story around diplomatic tensions and international relations, while others examine domestic implications, public sentiment, or humanitarian concerns. This diversity of coverage reflects how national perspectives, media freedom, and journalistic priorities influence what the public learns about global events.

How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.

Sources:

• Original Article
• This year’s biggest indie game hit is a drug-dealing simulator
• Schedule 1 Took Only A Month To Lose 78% Of Its Playerbase
• ‘Schedule 1’ Final Release Is Three Years Away According to Its Developer – First Major Update Will Be Community-Voted
• Schedule 1 is the best life sim I’ve played in years, partly because it reminds me of the greatest mode in Garry’s Mod
• I Dove Into Both ‘Schedule 1’ and ‘Drug Dealer Simulator’ After the Controversy Started: Which One Takes The Coke… I Mean, the Cake?

Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/schedule-1-drug-dealing-simulator-indie-game-hit-steam-2025-5