The indie gaming scene loves a good underdog story, and Schedule 1’s explosive rise to stardom seemed like one, until allegations of plagiarism cast a shadow over its success. However, the narrative has now taken a surprising turn.

Just weeks after Schedule 1 became one of the most-played titles on Steam, it came under scrutiny due to a copyright infringement investigation launched by Movie Games S.A., the publisher behind Drug Dealer Simulator. The investigation focused on alleged similarities in gameplay, UI, and themes between Schedule 1 and DDS, prompting speculation about potential legal battles between the two camps.

Today, that speculation was decisively cooled.

In a public statement released on Twitter, the developers of Drug Dealer Simulator, Byterunners have distanced themselves from any legal action, explicitly stating that they do not feel Schedule 1 robbed them and would not pursue legal action against its developers, TVGS, in any form.

“We want to state that... we as the developers do not feel like we are being robbed by anyone,” the statement reads. “If we had a choice in this, we would not pursue any legal actions against Schedule I in any shape or form.”

Byterunners emphasized that they see Schedule 1 as its own creation, albeit one inspired by DDS, and even praised the game for having its “own vibe, freshness, and ideas.” While they acknowledge they don't own the IP rights to Drug Dealer Simulator and cannot directly halt the publisher’s legal investigation, they’ve “expressed [their] concerns and opinions to them directly.”

This developer statement significantly defuses the tension that has been building in recent weeks. With Byterunners stepping back from the controversy and openly supporting creative inspiration and fair competition, the focus may now shift away from legal drama and back to the games themselves.

For now, Schedule 1 remains available on Steam, and its future looks considerably brighter than it did just days ago. What was once shaping up to be a high-profile indie IP clash might now become a case study in how developers can champion creativity, even amid publisher-driven disputes.