Once the most anticipated play-to-earn crypto game on Telegram, Hamster Kombat has now found itself at the center of widespread community outrage due to alleged "unfair tactics." As the scheduled airdrop on September 26 approaches, a wave of disappointment has swept over users, who have come to realize that the millions of $HMSTR points they earned are not as valuable as expected.
The Rise and Fall of Hamster Kombat
Launched in March, Hamster Kombat became an overnight sensation, attracting 300 million players from regions like Russia, Iran, Africa, and South Asia. However, the belief that tapping into a crypto-based video game would turn users into millionaires has proven to be nothing but an illusion.
Frustrated players have taken to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), using hashtags like #JusticeForHamsterKombatPlayers and #HamsterKombatScam to voice their grievances. The once-thriving community is now rapidly becoming a cautionary tale within the crypto space.
Why Players Are Angry?
Hamster Kombat gained mass popularity with its 300 million players grinding for over five months to boost their “points per hour” (PPH)—a metric that developers emphasized was crucial. However, as the game progressed, it shifted priorities to "key collections," leaving many players disqualified from the Season 1 airdrop. This left them feeling cheated, with their hard-earned efforts rendered meaningless.
To make matters worse, the game management banned 2.3 million players for using unethical methods to collect hamster keys, while those who did qualify for the airdrop were disappointed by the low rewards.
Many users complained that they had invested hours, even days, collecting HMSTR points, only to find out that their efforts were not as valuable as initially projected. To further aggravate the situation, there were allegations that certain influencers received large amounts of $HMSTR tokens through referrals, despite putting in little to no effort.
Another point of contention is the implementation of a vesting schedule without prior community consultation. On the day of the token listing, only 88.75% of HMSR tokens can be claimed, with the remaining 11.25% released over a 10-month period. This unexpected change has fueled frustration among users.
Why Did Only 131 Million Players Qualify for the Airdrop?
The decision to limit the airdrop to 131 million players raised eyebrows across the community. Although Hamster Kombat's team did not provide a clear explanation, the restrictions likely aim to control the token supply, reward the most active users, and manage the economic impact of the airdrop. However, this move has only worsened the community's concerns.
Tap-to-Earn Games: A Bubble Ready to Burst?
Hamster Kombat's downfall highlights a more significant issue with play-to-earn games that rely on simplistic models offering short-term incentives rather than long-term value. Games focusing on mindless tapping, instead of meaningful gameplay or skill, create a bubble of artificial value that is bound to burst once the initial hype fades.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has also voiced concerns over projects lacking real value. He suggested that a sustainable crypto project needs clear goals, engaging community activities, and solid foundations to survive long-term. Hamster Kombat, like many other play-to-earn games, needs to rethink its tokenomics and gameplay structure to stay relevant.
What’s Next for Hamster Kombat?
As the HMSTR token listing approaches, it is expected to face significant price volatility due to the controversies surrounding the game. Comparisons have already been made with other failed crypto projects like Notcoin and DOGS, whose prices dropped drastically after their airdrops.
The vesting mechanism may cushion some of the expected decline, but given the negative sentiment from Season 1, players are far from excited about the upcoming Season 2 airdrop.
Conclusion
Hamster Kombat has proven that in the world of crypto, there is no such thing as "easy money." The project has been a roller coaster for investors, offering a hard lesson in the importance of sustainable ecosystems and solid models. After all the drama, one thing is clear: in the world of blockchain, not everything that glitters is crypto gold.
