Copyright Infringement Accuser Faces Review Bombing Backlash

Schedule I Copyright Infringement Accuser Gets Review Bombed Instead

In a surprising twist, the indie game Schedule I faces accusations of copyright infringement from Movie Games S.A., the creators of The Drug Dealer Simulator series. However, the backlash has turned against the accuser, as fans rally behind Schedule I, leading to a wave of negative reviews targeting Movie Games S.A.'s titles on Steam.

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Schedule I’s Copyright Infringement Accuser Faces Backlash on Steam

Schedule I Copyright Infringement Accuser Gets Review Bombed Instead

On April 3, the Polish Press Agency reported that Movie Games S.A. completed a legal analysis suggesting that Schedule I, a new indie dope pushing simulator, may have infringed on The Drug Dealer Simulator's intellectual property rights. The accusations include similarities in plot, mechanics, and even the user interface.

Although no official results from the investigation have been released, the gaming community has taken sides, with a strong show of support for Schedule I. Consequently, The Drug Dealer Simulator and its sequel have seen their Steam ratings plummet to "Overwhelmingly Negative" and "Mostly Negative," respectively, due to a surge in critical reviews.

Schedule I Copyright Infringement Accuser Gets Review Bombed Instead

The negative feedback largely criticizes Movie Games S.A. for what is perceived as bullying an indie developer and highlights their hypocrisy, noting that similar games were not previously targeted. This backlash is notable given that The Drug Dealer Simulator series has been praised as one of the best criminal management games by both media and fans.

Schedule I, launched into Early Access on PC on March 25, invites players to rise from a small-time dope pusher to a kingpin in this cooperative crime simulation. The game has garnered "Overwhelmingly Positive" reviews on Steam and currently ranks as the platform's second top-selling game, outperforming titles like inZOI, Monster Hunter Wilds, and R.E.P.O. With an all-time peak of 459,075 concurrent players, as reported by SteamDB, Schedule I's popularity is undeniable.

Here at Game8, we found Schedule I to be a compelling and rewarding experience, reminiscent of a "Breaking Bad" simulator. For a deeper dive into our impressions of Schedule I's early access release, be sure to read our detailed article below!