Schedule 1: Cartel Not Showing Up Fix Guide
If you’ve unlocked Westville in Schedule 1 and the cartel isn’t appearing, you’ve likely run into a bug. The update added the Benzies storyline, but some saves from older versions don’t trigger the first message. Instead of restarting your whole playthrough, there are a couple of proven fixes that will get the cartel to show up.
How to Fix the Cartel Bug in Schedule 1
The cartel should normally contact you with a text after unlocking Westville. If this doesn’t happen, follow these steps:
Check your game version
Make sure you’re playing on the beta branch of Schedule 1. Go to Steam, right-click the game, select Properties, then switch to Beta in the dropdown. The cartel content is only available in the updated build.Trigger the cartel naturally
Some players report that if you encounter cartel members or ambushes in the world first, the story will progress. After stumbling on them, you may get a payphone call the next in-game day.Manual save fix (Cartel.json)
Go to your save folder:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\LocalLow\TVGS\Schedule I\Saves\<id>\Open the save you are using, like
SaveGame_1.Find the file
Cartel.json.Open it with Notepad or any text editor.
Delete everything inside the file (do not delete the file itself).
Save and close.
Load the game, sleep in-game, and you should receive the cartel message from Thomas Benzies.
Wait in-game if needed
After applying the fix, sometimes the message doesn’t arrive instantly. Sleep a few nights to give the game time to trigger the event.
Extra Troubleshooting
If you can’t save changes to
Cartel.json, make sure the file isn’t set to read-only. Right-click it, go to Properties, and uncheck “Read-only.”If the message still doesn’t arrive, confirm that you’ve unlocked Westville fully, since this is the only area that triggers the cartel storyline at first.
Final Blurb
The cartel not showing up in Schedule 1 can stall your entire run, but it’s usually a save issue rather than a progression block. Switching to the beta build or clearing the Cartel.json file has worked for most players. Once fixed, you’ll finally get that text from Benzies and can continue the story.
FAQ
Why doesn’t the cartel appear after unlocking Westville?
It’s a bug caused by using old saves from before the cartel update. New saves usually work fine.
Do I need to start a new save to fix it?
No. Using the beta build or editing the Cartel.json file normally fixes the issue without restarting.
How do I edit Cartel.json if it won’t save?
Make sure the file isn’t read-only. Right-click, open Properties, and uncheck the box before editing.
How long does it take for the cartel to contact me after the fix?
It can take one or two in-game days. Sleep a few times and check your phone for the unknown number.
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