Photo credit: www.dexerto.com
The indie game Schedule 1, which has emerged as a sensation on Steam, is now reportedly facing a formal investigation over alleged copyright infringement.
Recent weeks have been dominated by major titles like Monster Hunter Wilds, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and Split Fiction. However, Schedule 1 has recently eclipsed these games, becoming one of the top-played titles of early 2025.
Even two weeks post its early access launch, Schedule 1 continues to thrive, attracting an impressive number of players, as highlighted by metrics available on SteamDB.
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Despite its success, Schedule 1 is now encountering significant challenges. Reports from InsiderGaming reveal that the game is under scrutiny due to potential copyright violations.
Schedule 1 is under investigation for “potential infringement” of Movie Games S.A’s IP
Created by solo developer TVGS, Schedule 1 places players in the role of a drug manufacturer and dealer, allowing them to create various substances with unique and sometimes absurd properties, including Anti-Gravity and explosive effects.
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The game has quickly gained popularity, which has not gone unnoticed by Movie Games S.A, a company that has produced its own lineup of drug-related simulation games.
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On April 3, 2025, the publisher filed a request for an investigation into Schedule 1 over alleged IP infringements, as detailed in a document stating: “MOVIE GAMES SA (17/2025) Decision to commence investigation against the creators of the Schedule 1 production for claims regarding the infringement of the Issuer’s IP and related to committing an act of unfair competition against it.”
The document asserts that there is evidence of “potential infringement of the Issuer’s intellectual property rights and activities that may bear the characteristics of unfair competition.”
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As reported by InsiderGaming, the investigation was launched on March 24, coinciding with Schedule 1’s release. This initiated a comparative analysis assessing the similarities between Schedule 1 and Movie Games S.A’s existing titles in the drug-dealing genre.
The investigation is focused on multiple aspects, including the game’s narrative, gameplay mechanics, and user interface (UI).
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As of now, the developer of Schedule 1 has not publicly commented on the situation, yet fans have shown support by expressing their dissatisfaction through reviews. In a notable backlash, players have targeted games from the rival studio, resulting in an “Overwhelmingly Negative” rating for Drug Dealer Simulator on Steam.
Source
www.dexerto.com