Every now and then, a title emerges that doesn’t just spark conversation—it hijacks it. Schedule 1 is shaping up to be exactly that. Wrapped in secrecy and marketed like a blacked-out classified file, this PS5-exclusive game has the internet theorizing, dissecting, and refreshing forums like it’s a full-time job.

Whether you stumbled upon the teaser trailer during a State of Play event or you’ve been tracking rumors since the studio first teased their next-gen project, this guide lays out everything we know—and everything we suspect—about Schedule 1 on PlayStation 5. From release windows and platform exclusivity to plot leaks and gameplay design, here’s your all-access pass to the mysterious game everyone’s whispering about.

Let’s start with the obvious: Schedule 1 isn’t your typical triple-A blockbuster. Developed under the radar by a boutique division of one of Sony’s most guarded first-party studios (rumored to be a subdivision of Bend Studio), Schedule 1 reportedly blends psychological thriller, sci-fi, and survival mechanics into a slow-burn, single-player narrative.

There are even whispers that the story is loosely inspired by the structure of a drug empire simulation—only psychological. Rather than trafficking narcotics, the game’s systems are rumored to explore how memories and truths can be distributed, manipulated, and consumed like contraband. The “dealer” in this case? Your own mind.

Sony hasn’t issued an official release date, but the latest industry reports suggest Schedule 1 is on track for Q4 2025 . Here’s what’s fueling the speculation:

• Insider leaks point to a “holiday push” for one of Sony’s experimental narrative games.

• A trademark filed under Schedule 1 Interactive Narrative was renewed in March 2024 , often a sign of marketing prep.

• Several motion capture actors confirmed wrapping principal photography in late 2023 via social media.

Expect a full trailer—and possibly a playable demo—at Summer Game Fest 2025.

Yes. At launch, Schedule 1 is expected to be a PlayStation 5 exclusive , optimized to take full advantage of:

• DualSense haptic feedback for psychological tension cues

• Tempest 3D audio for spatial storytelling

• Ultra-fast SSD to eliminate loading screens between hallucination and reality

There’s no word on a PC port yet, but if Sony follows its usual pattern, a PC version could land in late 2026 .

Console fans can rest easy knowing console release and support will be a priority—this is a flagship psychological experience built from the ground up for next-gen.

Schedule 1 is rumored to center on a government researcher sent to investigate a defunct facility hidden in a remote mountainous zone. Think abandoned labs, scrambled logs, ethically questionable experiments, and a constant sense of paranoia.

Mechanics Include:

• Branching Dialogue Trees that affect timeline shifts

• Real-Time Sanity System , altering world layout based on player decisions

• Environmental Echoes —visual and audio hallucinations tied to past player choices

• No Traditional HUD – Instead, info is delivered through audio distortion, glitches, and environmental changes

If done right, Schedule 1 could redefine psychological survival games in the same way Returnal did for roguelikes.

A handful of plot leaks and decoded ARG clues from the game’s teaser site paint a fragmented picture:

• The player assumes the role of Agent Marek Voss , a scientist-turned-skeptic tasked with auditing a closed “behavioral modulation” program known only as Schedule 1.

• Files found in the game’s alternate reality website refer to something called The Consistency Protocol , allegedly a method to forcibly rewrite memory.

• Flashbacks reveal that Marek may have undergone testing himself , raising questions about his reality.

Some players speculate that the facility may have been a front for a digital drug dealer experiment—a mind-altering simulation designed to sell altered states and synthetic memories like virtual narcotics.

Based on concept art and early render leaks:

• The game adopts a cinematic third-person perspective

• Environments are photorealistic but intentionally “off”—rooms subtly rearrange themselves, lighting flickers based on your breathing

• The soundtrack, scored by an unnamed Berlin-based composer, blends analog synths with low-frequency pulses to create mood-driven tension

This is the kind of title where the wallpaper might whisper your name—and the radio might remember something you haven’t done yet.

Officially, Sony has only listed Schedule 1 under “confidential R&D games.” However, credible sources suggest the following:

• Core development is handled by a spin-off team from Bend Studio

• Veteran designers from Until Dawn and Alan Wake are rumored to be involved

• Consultants from academic fields like cognitive psychology and behavioral science are on the advisory panel

This wouldn’t be the first time Sony gave creative freedom to a smaller, internal team—Concrete Genie and Astro’s Playroom both came from similar setups.

Currently, no preorders are open. However:

• A PS Store placeholder page was briefly live in March 2025 before being taken down

• Users in the PlayStation Insider program may get early access to a playable teaser or internal beta via an upcoming Closed Technical Preview

• Some Reddit users discovered QR codes in PS5 dashboard ads linking to teaser images not yet officially released

If you want first dibs, sign up for PlayStation marketing emails and follow dev-tracking accounts across socials. Early adopters may also be invited to the first wave of the console versions testing group.

Schedule 1 isn’t aiming to be another bombastic shooter or open-world lootfest. It’s aiming for something smaller, stranger, and more intimate—the kind of game you play alone in the dark, headphones on, DualSense pulsing in your hands.

If even half the rumors are true, it may be one of the most original PS5 exclusives yet.

Would you enter a game that might erase your memory just to tell you a better story? Let us know in the comments—or start building your theory wall. Schedule 1 is coming, and reality is negotiable.