Since its launch in March, Schedule 1 has quickly ascended to become one of Steam’s top indie triumphs, offering a cooperative, open-world simulation that immerses players in the life of drug dealing. However, the Polish publisher of Drug Dealer Simulator, Movie Games S.A., seems displeased with this success. Recent reports indicate that the company is exploring the possibility of copyright infringement against Schedule 1, which has triggered a significant backlash in the form of negative reviews for its previous titles.
An official statement from Movie Games S.A. was published last week on the Polish Press Agency’s business portal, as noted by Insider Gaming. The press release, translated through machine tools, claims that a legal consultant has suggested that Schedule 1 may infringe on the intellectual property rights of Drug Dealer Simulator.
No concrete legal action has been disclosed against Schedule 1, but Movie Games S.A. has announced its intention to identify any further violations. The company stated, “we decided to utilize the services of international law firms specializing in Australian law – which governs the producer and publisher of Schedule 1.”
This press release has not been widely circulated, and Movie Games S.A. has yet to issue any additional comments, so it might be prudent to treat its authenticity with caution. We have reached out to the company for further clarification and will update as more information becomes available.
The “producer and publisher” of Schedule 1 is an independent developer known only as Tyler, and many players are finding the notion of Movie Games S.A. threatening this solitary developer over a game that has gained such popularity to be disconcerting. In the last few days, Drug Dealer Simulator and its sequel have received approximately 1,000 negative reviews, with many of these criticizing the ongoing situation involving Schedule 1.
“Lmao suing a lone indie dev for making a superior game is laughable,” noted one review on DDS2. “Instead of attempting to actually enhance your game, your immediate reaction was to unleash the lawyers. Pathetic. Absolutely embarrassing. You witnessed someone excel at your job, working solo without a budget, marketing team, or safety net, and your fragile ego just couldn’t handle it.”– User Comment
“I enjoyed the game until they became greedy and envious of a solo developer who created a game far superior to theirs,” stated a review of the first DDS. “I greatly respect the individual currently dedicated to updating Schedule 1. If you’re contemplating buying DDS1, trust me, purchase Schedule 1 instead.”– User Comment
Previously, Drug Dealer Simulator garnered positive reception, boasting nearly 20,000 reviews reflecting an 87% positive rating, as indicated by a snapshot from March 17 on the Internet Archive. However, its sequel has fared less favorably, and both titles are currently trending from mostly to overwhelmingly negative reviews. The unfolding inquiry into Schedule 1 remains to be seen, and it’s evident that Movie Games S.A. has not won many supporters through this saga.
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