Hamster Kombat, once heralded as a revolutionary play-to-earn game in the crypto world, has left its loyal community of players, affectionately known as “CEOs,” feeling utterly disillusioned. The game, which initially promised substantial rewards and significant financial returns through its native token $HMSTR, has now become a source of disappointment.
Despite months of hard work, dedication, and resource investment, the rewards have fallen drastically short of expectations, leaving many to question the integrity of the project.
Hamster Kombat, launched in March 2024, quickly rose to fame as one of the most popular clicker games on Telegram, amassing a player base of over 300 million users from countries like Russia, Iran, Africa, and South Asia. Its integration with blockchain technology and the play-to-earn model was viewed as an innovative approach, offering players the potential to earn real-world value through in-game participation.
By September, the anticipation surrounding the project reached its peak with the announcement of a massive airdrop for the $HMSTR token, scheduled for the 26th of the month. Unfortunately, the results of this highly anticipated event have been anything but rewarding for the majority of its players.
The Disappointing Airdrop
The $HMSTR token airdrop was supposed to be a defining moment for Hamster Kombat and its player community. The airdrop aimed to reward over 131 million qualified players with tokens based on their in-game performance.
Man who resigned his job for #hamster regrets
Hamster CEO #Hamster_Kombat
Falanas VeryDarkMan Bobrisky Nwaneri Maresca Robert Sanchez pic.twitter.com/LNqdUoI6Z2— दैनिक विश्नोई (@bishnoi_denik) September 28, 2024
However, as the day approached, the excitement quickly turned to frustration and disbelief. Instead of the substantial returns many had envisioned, players were left with meagre token allocations, often far less than what they had anticipated after months of gaming.
Many of these “CEOs” were heavily invested in the game’s Points Per Hour (PPH) system, believing that their relentless efforts would result in substantial rewards. However, the developers made a last-minute shift in the token distribution criteria, favouring a “key collections” system.
This change left many high-performing PPH players feeling betrayed, as their months of hard work seemingly amounted to nothing. Furthermore, the exclusion of over 2.3 million accounts, banned for alleged cheating, only added to the growing dissatisfaction.
Community Outrage and Social Media Backlash
It didn’t take long for the backlash to make its way onto social media platforms such as Twitter and Telegram. Memes mocking the token airdrop as the “Biggest Scam in History” went viral, as players expressed their frustration with the game’s sudden rule changes and the meagre token rewards they had received. The complaints weren’t limited to regular players; even prominent members of the community, who had invested significantly more time and resources, were left disappointed.
Some high-ranking users reported earning as little as $10 after months of in-game participation. One notable Hamster CEO with an impressive 8.2 million PPH allocation claimed to have received only 3,009 $HMSTR tokens, equivalent to just $20. The stark contrast between their efforts and the rewards they received fuelled accusations of unfair distribution and mismanagement by the developers.
Price Drop and Market Fallout
Adding insult to injury, the launch of the $HMSTR token on crypto exchanges saw the token’s price plummet by 30% within hours. Starting at $0.009, the token quickly dropped to $0.006810, wiping out any hopes of significant financial returns for those holding the token.
This sharp decline in value was attributed to several factors, including a sudden sell-off by token holders, dissatisfaction with the airdrop distribution, and the announcement of a lock-up period for 11% of the tokens, which caught many by surprise.
Hamster Kombat Ceo
Right 😂 😂 😂 #Hamster_Kombat pic.twitter.com/uX42E6retI— Ayodeji Omosebi (@Bankyfx0001) September 26, 2024
The massive 60 billion token airdrop on the Ton blockchain was meant to generate excitement and foster long-term engagement with the game. Instead, it has led to increased selling pressure, leaving many players cashing out at a loss and questioning the game’s future.
Cheating Allegations and Unfair Distribution
Another source of controversy was the banning of 2.3 million accounts for alleged cheating. While the developers claimed this was necessary to maintain fairness, many players argue that the bans were unjustified and targeted legitimate players. These accusations, coupled with claims that influencers received a disproportionately large share of the token rewards, have led to further distrust among the player community.
The developers’ failure to communicate transparently with their players has only worsened the situation. Many felt blindsided by the changes in the token distribution criteria, as well as the unexpected lock-up period. For a game that once promised great rewards for its players, these missteps have severely damaged its reputation.
Future of Hamster Kombat
The aftermath of the airdrop has left Hamster Kombat in a precarious position. With its community branding the event as a scam, the game risks losing its massive player base. Transparency and rebuilding trust will be key if Hamster Kombat hopes to survive in the competitive blockchain gaming market.
Between a hungry hunter and an angry CEO.. 😅 🤣 😅#HMSTR #hamster #hamsterkombat pic.twitter.com/olhE70GmDc
— Your Favorite Airdrop plug 🔌 (@airdrops_plug) September 26, 2024
While some still hold onto hope that the developers will address the concerns and rectify the situation, many have already started to abandon the game in search of better opportunities. Without immediate action, the future of Hamster Kombat looks bleak, with the potential for its player base and reputation to suffer irreparable damage.
A whole CEO like me 😭😭😂💔
How i wan take buy car#hamster #HMSTR #Hamster_Kombat #HamsterKombat pic.twitter.com/HkeHyXQN1U— Neny🤭💓 (@_Nenyboo) September 26, 2024
As a Hamster CEO you were given a choice to choose between these projects;
A. Dan Bello 4M. B. Bala 1.2B pic.twitter.com/waOTzrxg5c
— حنيف (@Hanneeif) September 28, 2024
