Schedule 1 pricing on Steam

Schedule 1 is Valve's standard pricing tier on Steam, and it costs $9.99 USD in the United States. The actual price you pay depends on your country and local currency — Steam converts the price automatically based on where you are. If you're outside the US, you'll see the equivalent in your local money, which may be higher or lower than $9.99 depending on exchange rates and regional pricing adjustments Valve applies.

Schedule 1 is one of several price points Valve offers for games on its platform. Think of it like how a movie theater charges different amounts for different films — some games cost $4.99, others $19.99, and so on. Schedule 1 sits in the middle-lower range, making it a common price for indie games, older titles, and smaller releases. You're not paying for a subscription or a special tier of access; you're paying a one-time purchase price for the game itself.

Once you buy a game at Schedule 1 price, it's yours to read and play as long as your Steam account exists. You don't lose access if the price changes later, and you won't be charged again.

Key Takeaways

  • Schedule 1 costs $9.99 USD in the United States, with the equivalent price shown in your local currency if you're outside the US.
  • The exact amount you pay depends on your country, because Steam adjusts prices for regional economies and exchange rates.
  • Schedule 1 is a one-time purchase price, not a subscription or recurring charge.
  • Once you buy a game at this price, you own it permanently on your Steam account and won't be charged again.
  • Games at this price point are often indie titles, older releases, or smaller games rather than major new AAA releases.

How Steam price tiers work

Steam doesn't use names like "Schedule 1" in its store interface — that's internal Valve terminology. When you browse the Steam store, you just see the price in dollars, pounds, euros, or whatever currency applies to you. But behind the scenes, Valve organizes games into pricing schedules, and Schedule 1 is one of the most common ones.

The reason Valve uses these tiers is consistency. Instead of letting every developer set any price they want, Valve maintains a set list of approved price points. This keeps the store organized and makes it easier for you to compare games at a glance. A game priced at Schedule 1 will always be $9.99 USD (or the regional equivalent), not $9.97 or $10.02.

Other common tiers include Schedule 0 at $4.99, Schedule 2 at $14.99, Schedule 3 at $19.99, and higher tiers going up from there. Developers choose which tier fits their game, but they can't pick a price outside these official schedules.

Regional pricing and what you actually pay

If you're in the United States, Schedule 1 is straightforward: $9.99. But if you're in Canada, the UK, Australia, or anywhere else, Steam shows you a converted price in your local currency. That conversion isn't always a straightforward math problem — Valve adjusts prices for regional economies, so a Schedule 1 game might cost £7.99 in the UK or $14.95 CAD in Canada, even though those aren't exact dollar-for-dollar conversions.

These adjustments exist because purchasing power varies by country. A $9.99 game might be expensive relative to local wages in one country and cheap in another. Valve tries to keep prices fair across regions, though the exact formula they use isn't public.

You can see the price in your local currency before you buy. When you visit the Steam store, it automatically detects your location (based on your account settings or IP address) and shows prices accordingly. If you travel or move, your prices may change to match your new location.

Why games are priced at Schedule 1

Developers choose Schedule 1 for several reasons. For indie developers and smaller studios, $9.99 is a sweet spot — high enough to make money on volume sales, but low enough that people don't hesitate to buy on impulse. Games at this price are often shorter experiences, niche titles, or games made by small teams with smaller budgets.

Older games sometimes drop to Schedule 1 after their initial release. A game that launched at $19.99 might fall to $9.99 after a year or two as sales slow down. This is a common strategy to keep older titles selling and introduce them to new players at a lower barrier to entry.

You'll also see Schedule 1 for games that are part of a series or franchise where the developer wants to offer an entry point at a lower price. For example, a studio might price the first game in a series at $9.99 to get players interested, then charge more for sequels.

How to find Schedule 1 games on Steam

Steam doesn't have a filter for "Schedule 1 games" in its store. Instead, you browse by category, genre, or price range. To find games around the $9.99 price point, use the price filter on the left side of the store page. Set the maximum price to $10 or $11, and you'll see games at or near Schedule 1.

You can also search by genre or tag — for example, "indie games" or "puzzle games" — and then sort by price. Many indie games cluster around Schedule 1, so filtering by the indie tag and then by price is an effective way to find them.

Another approach is to check the "New and Trending" or "Upcoming" sections. Many new indie releases start at Schedule 1 pricing. You can also look at curated lists or recommendations from other players, which often highlight games at various price points including this one.

Discounts and sales on Schedule 1 games

Even though Schedule 1 is already a lower price point, games at this tier still go on sale during Steam's seasonal events — Summer Sale, Winter Sale, Autumn Sale, and others. A Schedule 1 game might drop to $6.99 or $4.99 during a sale, depending on the developer's discount strategy.

Some developers offer deeper discounts on older Schedule 1 games to clear inventory or make room for new releases. Others keep discounts modest because the base price is already low. There's no rule about how much a Schedule 1 game can be discounted; it's up to the developer.

You can add games to your wishlist on Steam and set up notifications for price drops. When a game you're watching goes on sale, Steam will notify you. This is useful if you're waiting for a Schedule 1 game to drop another dollar or two before you buy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Schedule 1 the cheapest price tier on Steam?

No. Schedule 0 at $4.99 is cheaper, and there are even lower tiers for games priced at $1.99 or less. Schedule 1 is in the lower-middle range, not the absolute bottom.

Do I need to pay Schedule 1 price every time I play the game?

No. You pay once when you buy the game, and then you own it permanently. There are no recurring charges or subscription fees for Schedule 1 games unless the game itself includes optional in-game purchases.

Will the price of a Schedule 1 game change after I buy it?

The price in the store may change — the developer might raise it, lower it, or put it on sale. But you won't be charged again. You already own the game at the price you paid.

Can I buy a Schedule 1 game as a gift for someone in another country?

Yes, but they'll pay the price in their local currency, not yours. If you buy a gift for someone in the UK, they'll see the UK price. Some games have regional restrictions, so check the store page to confirm the game is available in their country before you buy.

What's the difference between Schedule 1 and other price tiers?

Schedule 1 is $9.99 USD. Schedule 0 is $4.99, Schedule 2 is $14.99, Schedule 3 is $19.99, and higher tiers go up from there. The tier you see depends on what the developer chose for that specific game. There's no quality difference — a Schedule 1 game isn't better or worse than a Schedule 2 game just because of price.