Schedule 1 Drug Dealer Simulator: Complete Guide to the Latest Steam Sensation

Introduction to Schedule 1: Steam's Viral Drug Dealer Simulator

Schedule 1 has exploded onto the Steam charts, becoming one of the platform's most-played games almost overnight after its Early Access release on March 24, 2025. Developed by Australian indie studio TVGS (Tyler's Video Game Studio), this gritty simulation game puts players in the shoes of a small-time drug dealer looking to build a criminal empire from the ground up.

What sets Schedule 1 apart from other games in the genre is its surprisingly deep mechanics and attention to detail. Despite its cartoony visual style, the game offers a complex and immersive experience of the drug trade, from growing cannabis and cooking meth to managing distribution networks and laundering money.

According to SteamDB, Schedule 1 pulled in 116,408 concurrent players within 24 hours of its release and peaked at a staggering 414,166 players by March 30, placing it among Steam's top five most-played games. At $20, this indie sensation has proven that quality gameplay can outshine AAA budgets.

Latest Updates: April 2025 Patch Notes (v0.3.4)

The Schedule 1 development team continues to support the game with regular updates. The latest "proper update" (version 0.3.4) is currently available on the Steam beta branch and includes several exciting additions:

Major New Features

1. Bleuballs Boutique - A new interior location with Herbert as the clerk, located next to Ray's Realty
2. Pawn Shop - New interior where you can sell almost anything (except drugs) to Mick
3. New Decorative Items:
   • Wooden and metal signs
   • Wall-mounted shelves
   • Safe
   • Antique and modern wall lamps
   • Grandfather clock

New Collectibles

• Ol' Man Jimmy's
• Château La Peepee
• Brut du Gloop
• Watches and chains (silver and gold varieties)
• Gold bar

Improvements and Bug Fixes

• Improved customer recommendation dialogue
• Fixed delivery destination dropdown issues
• Fixed player lists not clearing properly when exiting to menu
• Fixed non-host clients sometimes not receiving day/week pass events

To access the beta, right-click Schedule 1 in your Steam library, select "Properties," go to the "Betas" tab, and opt into the beta. The developer has noted that additional decorative objects will be added before the full release.

Beginner's Guide to Schedule 1

Getting Started After the Prologue

Schedule 1 begins with you arriving in Hyland Point after your uncle's drug business gets busted. With minimal resources and a dingy motel room as your base of operations, here's how to get your business off the ground:

1. Early Money-Making Strategies

The game starts slow, but there are several ways to supplement your income:

• Cash for Trash - Collect garbage around the city and deposit it in Cash for Trash bins for instant money
• Trash Grabber - Invest in a trash grabber from the hardware store to collect multiple pieces at once
• Motel Garbage - Even filled trash bags from your motel room can be exchanged for cash

This "trash economy" can net you up to $40 between drug deals, providing essential startup capital without taking on debt.

2. Product Management

• Build Inventory First - Don't feel pressured to accept every customer request. It's better to build up your product stock before committing to sales
• Free Samples - Keep extra product available for distributing free samples to expand your customer base
• Selective Dealing - You can decline requests if you don't have the requested product

3. Working During Curfew

While police patrol at night during curfew hours, selling during this time provides a cash bonus. The increased risk comes with increased reward, making night operations potentially more profitable if you can avoid law enforcement.

Advanced Game Mechanics

The Mixing System

One of Schedule 1's most engaging features is its drug mixing system, which allows you to create custom products with unique properties:

1. Purchase a mixing station from the hardware store for $500 (unlocks at Hoodlum I rank)
2. Select a base product (like OG Kush)
3. Add various ingredients to create new effects and increase value
4. Each ingredient affects properties like potency, addiction rate, and "flavor profile"

The game features an extensive combination system where the order of ingredients matters significantly. Experimentation is key to discovering highly profitable mixtures.

Police Evasion Strategies

As your operation grows, police attention becomes a greater concern:

• Maintain low visibility during daylight operations
• Learn police patrol routes and timings
• Use alleys and side streets for transactions
• If discovered, quickly retreat to safe houses (police won't follow inside)
• Garbage bins can sometimes serve as hiding spots in emergencies

Remember: Never attempt to complete transactions while police sirens are active.

Money Laundering

Converting "dirty" cash to legitimate funds is crucial for expanding your business:

• Early laundry options include small front businesses
• Higher reputation unlocks more efficient laundering channels
• Maintain a balanced ratio of cash to card money
• Avoid carrying excessive cash on your person
• Use bank accounts for larger transactions to reduce risk

Pro Tips from the Community

After analyzing player experiences since the game's launch, here are some proven strategies for success:

1. Smart Saving - Create multiple save files, especially before major transactions or when mixing expensive products
2. Pocket Management - Don't carry unnecessary items; store them in your warehouse
3. Dynamic Pricing - Adjust prices based on customer preferences and neighborhood
4. Order Management - Limit yourself to 2-3 orders at a time to avoid overcommitment
5. Communication - Your choice of words when responding to customers affects loyalty and transaction success rates
6. Curfew Bonus - Take advantage of the cash bonus for night sales, but with increased caution

Conclusion: Why Schedule 1 is Taking Over Steam

Schedule 1's unexpected success demonstrates that player engagement trumps AAA production values. The game's deep mechanics, progression systems, and sandbox nature have created a perfect storm of viral growth across social media, Twitch, and YouTube.

Developer Tyler has acknowledged being "overwhelmed" by the game's success, stating: "I never expected this kind of response! At the moment I'm just trying to stay focused and get patches out ASAP. Also looking forward to getting started on content updates as soon as all major bugs are patched."

With regular updates planned and a passionate community emerging, Schedule 1 looks poised to remain one of 2025's biggest gaming phenomena. Whether you're building your first grow operation or expanding to a multi-property empire, Schedule 1 offers a deeply engaging simulation of the criminal underworld that keeps players coming back for more.

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Note: Schedule 1 is a fictional video game set in a satirical world. This guide covers in-game mechanics and strategies only. All content, items, and references are fictional and exist solely within the game.

Last updated: April 10, 2025