Movie Games SA faces backlash after announcing an investigation into Schedule I, with hundreds of players review-bombing the Drug Dealer Simulator franchise despite no legal action being filed.
As tensions rise among the player base, Movie Games SA, publisher of Drug Dealer Simulator and its upcoming sequel, has issued a clear and direct statement: “There is no lawsuit.” This response comes after waves of negative reviews hit Drug Dealer Simulator and DDS 2, dropping the original game’s overall Steam rating from Very Positive to Mostly Positive.
The controversy stems from Movie Games SA’s investigation into the indie title Schedule I, developed by TVGS. The publisher disclosed yesterday that the probe was triggered by alleged “potential infringement” on the Drug Dealer Simulator IP. Areas under scrutiny include the game’s plot, mechanics, and user interface—elements the company claims bear striking similarities.
Despite speculation across social media and gaming forums, no lawsuit has been filed against Schedule I or its developer. In fact, Tyler of TVGS, the mind behind Schedule I, confirmed that legal action is not underway. Instead, the publisher clarified it is conducting an internal investigation as part of its “legal obligations”—a move reportedly driven by community comparisons and corporate accountability.
However, that clarification didn’t stop players from expressing their disapproval en masse. Hundreds of negative reviews were posted on the Steam pages for both DDS 1 and DDS 2, many of them accusing Movie Games of trying to suppress a smaller competitor.
Movie Games SA Doubles Down: “There Is No Lawsuit”
In an effort to put the fire out, Movie Games SA published a follow-up statement on the Drug Dealer Simulator 2 Steam page with a bold headline and accompanying image that reads simply: “There is no lawsuit.”
“It is not our intention to prevent TVGS from selling or developing their game,” the company emphasized.
The statement also explains that the investigation was sparked by a preliminary legal analysis, which suggested that Schedule I might infringe on their IP. As a publicly traded company, Movie Games asserts that it is legally required to assess these claims, stating that failing to do so could lead to allegations of negligence.
A Miscommunication Fueled by Stock Market Transparency
Movie Games clarified that the investigation details were initially disclosed through Poland’s ESPI system, a stock exchange information platform, to ensure full corporate transparency. According to the publisher, media outlets misinterpreted the ESPI filing as an official lawsuit announcement, unintentionally fanning the flames among fans.
