You’re browsing Steam, looking for that specific indie hit everyone’s talking about, and suddenly—it’s gone. Or maybe you're seeing a weird notice about regional unavailability. If you’re in Australia, the saga of Schedule 1 Australia Steam has been a wild ride of regulatory confusion, accidental delistings, and a very stressed-out solo developer.
It’s honestly a classic "Australia vs. Video Games" story, but with a modern twist.
Most people assume the game was banned because of its content. I mean, it’s a game where you build a drug empire. Given Australia’s history with games like Fallout 3 or DayZ, a ban feels like the obvious answer. But the reality is actually much more mundane—and kinda funny in a "bureaucracy is a nightmare" sort of way.
The Day Schedule 1 Vanished from Australian Steam
Back in May 2025, Australian players woke up to find Schedule 1—the breakout simulation hit from TVGS—completely missing from their Steam store. No warning. No "coming soon." Just a blank page and a message saying the item was unavailable in their region.
The internet, being the internet, immediately lost its mind.
Rumors flew that the Australian Classification Board (ACB) had personally swooped in to crush the game because it lets you manufacture meth and sell "shrooms." People were calling Australia a "nanny state" on Reddit before the developer could even finish his morning coffee.
It wasn’t a ban, it was a paperwork error
Tyler, the solo dev behind TVGS (Tyler’s Video Game Studio), eventually hopped on X (formerly Twitter) to clear the air. It turns out he just... forgot.
Basically, Tyler thought that official age ratings in Australia were only mandatory for physical boxed copies or console releases. He’s based in Sydney, so you'd think he'd know the local rules, but digital PC distribution is a bit of a gray area for many indie creators.
In Australia, any game sold commercially must be classified. Period. Because Schedule 1 didn't have a rating, it was technically being sold illegally. Once Steam realized the oversight, they pulled the plug on the Australian storefront to stay compliant.
It wasn't a moral crusade. It was a compliance check.
Why the Australian Classification Board is So Picky
To understand why Schedule 1 Australia Steam is such a hot topic, you have to look at how the ACB views drugs. They aren't just "strict"; they have very specific triggers.
Historically, if a game showed drug use as a "positive incentive" or a "reward," it was an automatic Refused Classification (RC). This is why Fallout 3 had to rename Morphine to "Med-X" and why DayZ had issues with morphine autoinjectors.
The R18+ Loophole
In July 2025, Schedule 1 finally got its official rating: R 18+.
The board’s report was actually quite detailed. They noted the "high impact drug themes" and "interactive drug use." You can literally smoke meth in the game. Usually, that’s a death sentence for a game's release in Australia.
So, how did it pass?
The board decided that because the drug use wasn't linked to a "direct incentive or reward" (it’s more of a simulation mechanic with consequences), and because the graphics are somewhat "cartoonish" or "undetailed," it didn't cross the line into being prohibited. It’s a fine line, honestly. One wrong line of code and the game would still be blocked today.
Building an Empire: What is Schedule 1 Actually About?
If you haven't played it yet, the game is basically Breaking Bad meets a management sim. You start in a dusty desert with your Uncle Nelson, get your RV blown up by a rival cartel, and then move to the fictional city of Hyland Point to rebuild.
It’s deep. Like, "I need a spreadsheet for my cocaine purity" deep.
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- Mixing Stations: You don't just sell bags. You have to mix product with ingredients like paracetamol or even soft drinks to create "special variants."
- Automation: Eventually, you’re not the one walking the streets. You’re hiring janitors, cooks, and dealers to run the operation while you buy up real estate to launder your cash.
- The Heat: The police system is no joke. It’s got a "wanted" mechanic similar to GTA, with roadblocks and random searches that can end your run pretty quickly if you're carrying too much weight.
The game is currently in Early Access, and the dev has been surprisingly transparent about the roadmap. They just added "Shrooms" in December 2025, and as we move through early 2026, the focus is shifting toward cleaning up the code and expanding the map.
What Real-World "Schedule 1" Means
A lot of people get confused by the name. In the US, "Schedule I" is a legal category for drugs the government claims have "no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse."
Think heroin, LSD, and (at the federal level in the US) marijuana.
In Australia, the "Poisons Standard" works a bit differently. Our "Schedule 1" is actually currently empty—it’s a legacy category that isn't really used. Most of the stuff you're dealing in the game would fall under Schedule 4, 8, or 9 in the Australian system.
The developer, Tyler, almost changed the name because he was worried it was too "US-centric" and would hurt his SEO. Luckily for him, the game blew up on TikTok and Twitch anyway. The name stuck, and now it’s one of the most recognizable indie titles on the platform.
What You Need to Do Now
If you’re trying to play Schedule 1 in Australia today, the good news is the "ban" is over. The game is fully available on Steam with its shiny new R 18+ rating.
But if you're an indie dev or just someone interested in the scene, there are some real lessons here.
- Check Local Laws: If you're releasing a game, especially one with "edgy" content, don't assume digital stores are a free-for-all. Australia, Germany, and China have very specific hoops you have to jump through.
- Get Classified Early: Don't wait for Steam to delist you. Use the IARC (International Age Rating Coalition) tool if you can—it’s often free for developers and covers most regions.
- Watch the "Rewards": If your game features drugs, make sure they aren't purely "power-ups." The ACB is much more likely to pass a game if the drug use is depicted as part of a gritty, realistic, or even punishing simulation rather than a "press X to get stronger" mechanic.
The "Schedule 1 Australia Steam" situation was a massive headache for the fans and the dev, but it also showed that the Australian Classification Board is slightly more flexible than they used to be in the early 2000s. We've come a long way from the days of banning Leisure Suit Larry.
Just make sure you have your paperwork in order before you start selling virtual meth to the masses.
To stay updated on the latest patches and the upcoming February "surprise" update, keep an eye on the TVGS Discord or the Steam community hub. The game is still in Early Access, so your feedback on the new mixing recipes and the Hyland Point expansion actually matters.