The Schedule I developer likely underestimated the sheer volume of content in their latest Steam sensation.

There are few things more heartwarming than a solo developer seeing breakout success, especially if their game is a wholesome testament to community spirit, entrepreneurship, and innovative street cleaning solutions like Schedule I. Pretty close, though, is a solo developer pulling a ‘Miyazaki lying about Elden Ring‘, and underselling just how big their game actually is in the run-up to release.

Developer Tyler has been updating the bud flinging simulator steadily throughout the demo release and into the current early access, and they’ve also got a roadmap over at Trello here (featuring: raids, parkour, jukeboxes, and controller support among other things). Some of the most relevant communication is actually in the Steam forums though. Tyler revealed yesterday that he’s currently working on getting the game Steam Deck verified. It’s also where he first revealed the full list of planned sellables that are now in the roadmap (Marijuana, Meth, Cocaine, Shrooms, MDMA, and delicious + cool Heroin), with plans to take community suggestions once they’re all in.

But my favourite interaction I’ve seen is one where Tyler comments on a thread simply titled “Raise The Price”, where the poster offers 50 or even $100. “Haha I appreciate it but I think $20 is fair,” writes Tyler. “On release I’m confident the game will be able to easily provide 15+ hours of entertainment (not just mindless grinding)”.

I’m only a few hours into the demo myself, but as far as I can tell, that’s either vastly underselling how much stuff there is to actually do in Schedule I, or vastly underestimating how much a good portion of the game’s 30,000 or so players enjoy just pissing around in this thing. It’s got that crackful combination of PowerWash Sim zen mixed with the steady, bankable progress of the the self-replicating factory genre. You buy one plant, earn enough for two plants, two plants turns into six plants. You automate certain tasks, you expand others. You can rope a co-op mate in to grind like mad, but you can also just explore the streets picking up litter at your own pace.

I’m actually left wondering if Tyler only ever intended that 15 hours, and the community has just found myriad unforeseen methods of piss aboutery. Either way, it’s refreshing to see a game pull the rare underpromise, although I imagine its easier when you haven’t got a publisher hounding you to promise free back massages and cures for depression with every copy.

Tyler also dropped a patch yesterday. Blackjack dealers will no longer reveal their hand early to non-host players, an image I enjoy greatly. First person jackets are less janky now, and you’ll have to work harder for the ‘Master Chef’ achievement, which was being awarded prematurely.

Are you playing [new viral Steam game we’re required to write about to stay relevant and profitable in these dark times]? What do you think of [new viral Steam game we’re required to write about to stay relevant and profitable in these dark times]? Would you…kiss [new viral Steam game we’re required to write about to stay relevant and profitable in these dark times]? I’m half joking here, honestly. I think Schedule I is pretty good. It avoids the self-seriousness of other drug dealer sims I’ve seen while also having a bit more meat to it than just “eh, drugs are funny, right? No need to make an actual game”. Do add that parkour, though. I want to find out how high up I have to be to knock someone out with a cigarette butt.