Accuser of Copyright Infringement Faces Review Bombing Backlash

Schedule I, the indie co-op crime sim that’s taken Steam by storm, is now at the center of a copyright controversy—but the backlash isn’t going as expected. Instead of harming Schedule I, fans have turned the tables, flooding the accuser’s games with negative reviews. Here’s what’s happening and what’s next for Schedule I.

Schedule I’s Copyright Infringement Accuser Faces Steam Backlash

Movie Games S.A., developer of The Drug Dealer Simulator series, has publicly accused Schedule I of copyright infringement. According to a statement from the Polish Press Agency on April 3, their legal team concluded that Schedule I may have copied key elements from their IP—including plot structure, gameplay mechanics, and even UI design.

However, no formal legal action has been confirmed yet. In the meantime, the gaming community has spoken—and it’s largely in favor of the indie title. Steam reviews for The Drug Dealer Simulator and Drug Dealer Simulator 2 have plummeted, now labeled “Overwhelmingly Negative” and “Mostly Negative” respectively due to a wave of recent player feedback.

Many of these new reviews criticize Movie Games S.A. for allegedly targeting a small developer while ignoring similar titles in the past. Players are calling out the perceived hypocrisy and labeling the move as corporate bullying—despite the original series once being praised as a standout in the criminal management genre.

Why Schedule I Is Winning Hearts (and Charts)

Launched into Early Access on March 25, Schedule I lets players rise from a street-level dealer to a full-blown drug empire boss—with seamless co-op support. The game has earned an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating on Steam and currently ranks as the platform’s 2nd top-selling title, outperforming major releases like inZOI, Monster Hunter Wilds, and indie hit R.E.P.O. As of this update, it boasts an impressive all-time peak of 459,075 concurrent players (via SteamDB).

At Game8, we found Schedule I to be surprisingly addictive—a true “Breaking Bad” simulator in both tone and progression. For a deeper look at our early access impressions, check out our full review below.