"Copyright Accuser Faces Review Bombing Backlash"

In a surprising turn of events, indie game Schedule I, a co-op crime simulation that lets players rise from small-time dope pushers to kingpins, finds itself at the center of a copyright infringement controversy. The accuser, Movie Games S.A., developers of The Drug Dealer Simulator series, allege that Schedule I has borrowed heavily from their games' plot, mechanics, and user interface. This accusation was made public through the Polish Press Agency on April 3, following a legal analysis by Movie Games S.A. Yet, no official outcome has been announced from the investigation so far.

However, the gaming community has taken sides, and it appears that Schedule I enjoys stronger support. In a wave of backlash, The Drug Dealer Simulator and its sequel, Drug Dealer Simulator 2, have been hit with numerous negative reviews on Steam, resulting in ratings of "Overwhelmingly Negative" and "Mostly Negative" respectively. Many of these reviews criticize Movie Games S.A. for what's perceived as bullying against the indie developer of Schedule I, and for their apparent hypocrisy, noting that similar games were not challenged until Schedule I's emergence. This is despite the Drug Dealer Simulator series being lauded as one of the best criminal management games by various outlets and fans.

Schedule I, which launched into Early Access on PC on March 25, has been met with an "Overwhelmingly Positive" response on Steam. The game has soared to become the platform's 2nd top-selling game, surpassing notable titles like inZOI, Monster Hunter Wilds, and the indie-developed R.E.P.O. According to SteamDB, Schedule I has reached an all-time peak of 459,075 concurrent players, showcasing its immense popularity.

Here at Game8, we found Schedule I to be a surprisingly addictive and rewarding experience, akin to a "Breaking Bad" simulator. For a deeper dive into our thoughts on Schedule I's early access release, feel free to check out our detailed article below!

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