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Schedule I’s Cartel Update, labeled v0.4.0, became available to test on Steam’s beta branch on August 13, 2025. It adds the Benzies family as a rival cartel and makes cartel influence a requirement for unlocking new regions, alongside new items, property, and gameplay changes. The announcement described a beta test, not a confirmed stable-release date.
What the Cartel Update adds
The update introduces the Benzies family, a powerful rival cartel in Hyland Point. Players first encounter the family after unlocking several customers in Westville. Patch notes list encounters and interactions including deals during truces, ambushes, dealer robberies, dead-drop theft, and deals with cartel customers.
Cartel influence also affects regional progression: players must lower the associated influence level to a threshold before they can progress into new regions. This is the documented progression change; the patch notes do not describe a broader cartel-rank or reputation system.
New property, vehicle, weapons, and appearance options
| Category | Documented additions |
|---|---|
| Property | Hyland Manor, purchasable after completing the Benzies storyline |
| Vehicle | Hotbox |
| Weapons | Pump shotgun and shotgun shells |
| Hairstyles | Close buzzcut, Tony, and long slicked back |
These are in-game additions, not physical products or a separate boxed edition.
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Other gameplay changes and fixes
The patch notes also include multiplayer, deal, and interaction changes:
- In multiplayer, players can view other players’ NPC dialogue.
- Deals are canceled if the assigned dealer is dead or unconscious.
- Players can pickpocket unconscious characters and police.
- Attacking a customer triggers a 72-hour lockout from that customer’s orders.
- Vehicles received braking adjustments, and non-police NPCs can use ranged weapons.
The notes additionally list fixes and adjustments for AI, flashlights, scripts, tutorials, lighting, ragdolls, buildings, recoil animations, net-worth calculation, vehicle damage, and fonts.
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How to access the beta
The August 2025 announcement said v0.4.0 was available to test through Schedule I’s Steam beta branch. A contemporaneous report described opting into the beta through the game’s Steam properties. Those instructions refer to the historical test; check Steam’s current branch options rather than assuming the same beta remains available.
Beta versus stable release
| Version context | What the available evidence says |
|---|---|
| v0.4.0 beta | Available for testing on Steam’s beta branch from August 13, 2025, according to the update announcement indexed by SteamDB. |
| Stable release | The cited contemporary reporting said a full release date had not been confirmed at that time. The dossier does not establish the current stable-release status. |
SteamDB mirrors and indexes the Steam Community patch notes and is not affiliated with Valve or Steam. Contemporary reports mentioned a possible beta end date, but that is historical information, not a current branch-status guide.
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FAQ
When did the Schedule I Cartel Update beta become available?
The v0.4.0 Open Beta was announced as available for testing on Steam’s beta branch on August 13, 2025.
What is the Big Cartel Update called in the patch notes?
The update notes call it the Cartel Update, version 0.4.0. “Big Cartel Update” is a descriptive title used for the update.
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What is the main progression change?
Access to new regions depends on lowering the associated cartel influence level to a required threshold.
Does the update add real-world products?
No. Hyland Manor, the Hotbox, the shotgun and shells, and the hairstyles are in-game content.
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