Controversial Drug-Trading Game Skyrockets on Steam, Outpacing Assassin’s Creed Shadows

The DEA has Schedule 1 drugs, substances, or chemicals defined as “drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” It shares the name with a new game that’s blowing up the charts on Steam and players can dive into early access now.

In Schedule 1, you take the role of a small-time drug dealer rolling into a new city with no cash, no product, and no hookups or clients. The game’s objective is to build your drug empire from the ground up as you contend against law enforcement and rival deadly cartel members so you can expand your empire and become a drug kingpin.

Released just yesterday, Schedule 1 quickly climbed to the top of the charts of not only Trending Games, but also Popular Releases, and Hot Releases on SteamDB. The game even reached 116,408 concurrent first-day players–almost double that of Assassin’s Creed: Shadows. It reached a new high today with over 131,000.

Some players might remember playing Drug Wars on their TI-86 in high school, and at its foundation, Schedule 1 seems similar in that aspect. However, Schedule 1 also has multiplayer capabilities that help you take your empire to greater heights. The game even breaks down your drug-making process to include monitoring lighting, growth, and even when to harvest your plants for the best product possible.

Schedule 1 is currently on sale and players who buy now will have early access until March 31, when the price will go back up by 25-50% afterwards.