The gaming community was taken by surprise when Schedule 1, the unexpected indie sensation of 2025, found itself at the center of a brewing controversy. Despite its meteoric rise to fame with nearly half a million concurrent players weeks after launch, the game is now facing scrutiny from an unlikely source - the publishers of Drug Dealer Simulator.

Players had been happily exploring Schedule 1's mechanics, from learning how to drop items to perfecting their virtual cannabis recipes. However, the mood shifted dramatically when news broke about an ongoing investigation by Movie Games, the publisher behind Drug Dealer Simulator, into potential similarities between the two franchises.

The situation escalated quickly as passionate Schedule 1 fans began review bombing Drug Dealer Simulator titles on Steam. In response to the growing controversy, Movie Games issued an official statement on April 8 via their X (formerly Twitter) account to clarify their position.

Contrary to initial reports, Movie Games emphasized that there is no lawsuit in progress against Schedule 1's developer TVGS. The company stated clearly that they have no intention of preventing TVGS from selling or continuing development on their game. However, as a publicly traded company, Movie Games explained they have a legal obligation to investigate potential copyright infringement to avoid accusations of negligence from shareholders.

Interestingly, Movie Games revealed they had actually sent TVGS best wishes shortly before Schedule 1's release, suggesting there was no animosity between the companies prior to this controversy. The publisher's statement appears aimed at correcting misconceptions in media coverage that framed the investigation as an aggressive legal action.

Despite these clarifications, the Steam review sections for both Drug Dealer Simulator games currently show 'Overwhelmingly Negative' recent reviews, with most criticism focusing on the investigation rather than the games themselves. While Movie Games' explanation may help mitigate some of the backlash, the situation remains unresolved as the investigation continues.

This case highlights the complex legal landscape surrounding intellectual property in the gaming industry, where similar game concepts can lead to difficult situations even when there's no malicious intent. As both developers and players await the investigation's outcome, the gaming community continues to debate where the line should be drawn between inspiration and infringement.