Less than two weeks after its release, Schedule 1 has attracted over 400,000 concurrent players, becoming one of the most-played indie games of the year. 

But the game is now under official investigation following allegations of copyright infringement and unfair competition. 

According to a report by Insider Gaming, the investigation was triggered by allegations from Movie Games S.A., the creators of Drug Dealer Simulator, who claim that Schedule 1 may have infringed upon their intellectual property.

On April 3, Movie Games S.A., the publisher behind the Drug Dealer Simulator series, filed a formal request to launch a legal investigation into Schedule 1, developed by TVGS. 

According to documents published by Polish regulatory site papbiznes, the company claims Schedule 1 looks very similar to their own titles, Drug Dealer Simulator 1 & 2.

The investigation is looking into potential copying of:

• Game plot and storyline

• Gameplay mechanics related to drug production and distribution

• The user interface (UI) design and structure

“Potential infringement of the Issuer’s intellectual property rights and activities that may bear the characteristics of unfair competition have been identified,” reads the legal notice.

The Rise of Schedule 1

Despite its legal woes, Schedule 1 has become an unexpected hit. The game puts players in control of a drug empire, combining strategy, simulation, and risk management. 

Its gritty aesthetic, well-designed crafting systems, and high replay value made it very popular —especially among fans of underground-style indie titles.

With an upcoming plan for console releases, the game was eyeing expansions for:

• Schedule 1 game Xbox

• Schedule 1 game PS5

• Schedule 1 game PC updates

But this lawsuit could delay, if not derail, those plans.

Is This Like Palworld vs Pokémon?

Many gamers are drawing comparisons between this situation and the ongoing debates around Palworld and Pokémon. 

In both cases, an indie game found success while drawing "inspiration" from an existing, more established franchise—raising difficult questions around originality vs imitation in game development.

In the case of Schedule 1, the similarities with Drug Dealer Simulator might go beyond thematic overlap. 

The legal team from Movie Games S.A. is conducting a comparative analysis between the titles, which could determine the game’s fate on platforms like Steam.

What Happens Next?

If the claims are validated, Schedule 1 could face:

• Removal from Steam

• Legal damages and fines

• Halted development and future updates

So far, TVGS has not issued an official response, but gamers and industry watchers are keeping a close eye on what happens next.

This controversy sheds light on a growing challenge in the gaming world: how close is too close when it comes to game design? Indie devs often draw inspiration from popular titles, but when success follows too closely on the heels of another IP, the legal risk can’t be ignored.

For now, Schedule 1 remains live on Steam and continues to attract thousands of players daily. Whether it survives this legal storm, yet, remains to be seen.