Schedule 1 Gets RIPPED OFF! History Repeats Itself!

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2025 saw the unexpected surge of popularity for the game called Schedule 1, which initially wasn’t widely known. It gained traction primarily through word-of-mouth, and despite being developed by a single individual as a drug dealer simulator, it was launched on Steam in an early access format in March 2025. Remarkably, without any advertising campaigns, it caught the attention of hundreds of thousands of gamers on the platform. In its debut, Schedule 1 surpassed popular AAA games like Grand Theft Auto V and Monster Hunter Wilds in terms of active players, and it garnered an impressive 98% positive user rating on Valve’s PC marketplace.

The reason for the significant focus on “Schedule 1” might be due to its unique nature. “Schedule 1” is an open-world crime game where players assume the role of a fledgling drug dealer, aiming to rise through the ranks in the city of Hyland Point by peddling drugs. Despite its mature subject matter, the game maintains a humorous tone. Its visual style bears resemblance to “Rick and Morty“, and the violence depicted is largely exaggerated. There aren’t many games similar to “Schedule 1” available, but since its early access launch, several imitations have emerged on various platforms.

Knock-Off Versions of Schedule 1 are Popping Up All Over the Place

While the creator of Schedule 1 intends to launch the game on consoles at some point, it’s currently exclusive to PC. However, games labeled as Schedule 1 have appeared on certain digital marketplaces. For example, PlayStation 5 users spotted a popular title on the PlayStation Store called Schedule 1: Dope Empire. Although it sports a different visual aesthetic, this game is a clear imitation of the original Schedule 1, with its supposed features and identically-named environment mirroring those of the authentic version.

Popular Indie Games Get Knock-Off Ports More Often than AAA Games Do

In recent times, it’s become challenging to discover counterfeits or replicas of major AAA video games. Unlike popular titles such as “Monster Hunter Wilds” or “Baldur’s Gate 3”, which are scarcely imitated, there’s a noticeable surge in unauthorized copies trying to cash in on the unexpected fame of indie games developed by smaller studios.

Much like Schedule 1, Pocketpair’s indie survival game Palworld, which debuted on Xbox and PC last year, quickly gained popularity. Yet, mere days following its release, unauthorized versions of Palworld popped up on mobile marketplaces such as the Google Play Store. A similar scenario unfolded for the asymmetrical horror game R.E.P.O., despite it being exclusive to PC; fraudulent renditions of this game emerged on the PlayStation Store without the creators’ authorization or approval. Even Gray Zone Warfare, the well-known extraction shooter from Madfinger Games, encountered a counterfeit version with a similar name on the PlayStation platform.

Platform Holders Need to Put Stricter Regulations in Place to Stop This from Happening

One significant factor driving shovelware developers towards indie games instead of major AAA titles might be the reduced risk of lawsuits. Since a counterfeit version of a game like “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” on the PlayStation Store would likely prompt an immediate cease-and-desist notice from Nintendo, it’s safer for shovelware developers to target smaller games. The rise of generative AI has further simplified the process of creating copycat games with minimal effort. Unless platform holders impose stricter regulations, this problem is likely to persist in the near future.

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2025-05-17 15:05