The Controversy Unfolds
Players argue that the game has been problematic from the start. One user expressed their frustration, saying, “My Season 1 surprise: the real cheaters get the airdrop, and real players get banned. Good game, Hamster Kombat.”
This sentiment is widespread. Another player questioned, “Am I the only one banned?” To their surprise, they weren’t alone. Another frustrated user commented, “We want justice. We didn’t cheat. After 3 months of hard work, we received nothing.”
Some players found themselves in an even worse position. After three months of gameplay, their days count reset to zero.
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Referral Issues and Accusations of a Pyramid Scheme
There are also concerns about the game's referral system, which has been compared to a pyramid scheme. One player shared their frustration on X: “I referred 10 friends but didn’t unlock the 10 friends achievement. Please fix the problem.”
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Hamster Kombat's Reputation Takes a Hit
The game appears to be moving in an unexpected direction, one that players weren’t prepared for. A player warned others to check their achievements: “If the ‘Cheating is Bad’ card is removed, you’re safe. If it’s still there but not glowing, you’re being watched. If it’s glowing, you probably won’t get the airdrop.”
As of now, only 37% of Hamster Kombat CEOs are eligible for the upcoming airdrop. One player wrote an open letter to the Hamster Kombat team, stating, “Cheating is a bad thing, but your system has failed to accurately identify real cheaters.”
The letter went on to accuse the game of allowing individuals to exploit the system by using multiple accounts and generators, while legitimate players were unfairly disqualified.
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The PPH and Key Collection Issue
Another major complaint is about the in-game PPH (Power per Hour) and key collection system. Players have spent months focusing on increasing their PPH, only to find out that key collection is now the priority. One player expressed their frustration: “From Day 1, you emphasized the importance of PPH, but now you’re giving all the importance to keys.”
Players were also upset that, despite the team announcing that keys were not necessary for the airdrop, many were disqualified based on their key collection efforts.
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A Call for Boycott
The growing discontent has led to calls for a boycott. One player tweeted, “No one who worked hard will stand for this. Your community can build you up, but they can also bring you down.”
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Interlude Season and What’s Next
As Hamster Kombat gears up for the launch of its HMSTR token and the airdrop on September 26, the game has entered its “Interlude Season.” A snapshot of player progress has been taken, ending the current season. However, many familiar features have been removed, including the ability to earn in-game coins by tapping the main screen and the Mine menu with crypto exchange upgrades.
Players can now earn in-game diamonds by participating in partnered games, inviting friends, following social media accounts, and watching Hamster Kombat videos on YouTube.
With over 300 million players and 100 million active gamers, TON creators have warned that the high demand for the airdrop could affect network performance.
