Hamster Kombat Faces Player Backlash After Token Airdrop and Value Decline

Key Insights:

• Hamster Kombat’s token airdrop disappoints many as HMSTR value drops sharply post-launch.
• The game plans to attract new users with Season 2 and expanded gameplay features.
• Hamster Kombat aims to go beyond Telegram, integrating with third-party games and global platforms.

Hamster Kombat, the Telegram-based clicker game, has faced growing dissatisfaction from players following its much-hyped token airdrop. The game’s team promoted the event as the largest airdrop in crypto history, claiming that it sent tokens to 131 million users. 

This followed an earlier announcement that over 300 million users had registered for the game. However, many players have expressed frustration over the number of tokens they received and the subsequent sharp drop in their value.

Hamster Kombat’s anonymous founders responded to the criticism, emphasizing that the price of the HMSTR token is driven by supply and demand. They attributed the declining value to players selling off their tokens but assured users that the game’s ecosystem is still in development.

Declining Token Value

Since the airdrop, the value of HMSTR tokens has dropped significantly. Initially, the token’s market capitalization stood at $660 million, but it has since fallen to around $244 million, according to CoinGecko. This steep decline has been more pronounced compared to other similar projects, such as Notcoin’s NOT token. Many players have taken to social media, notably on X, to voice their discontent about the disappointing returns from the airdrop.

While such price declines are common following an airdrop, HMSTR’s fall has been sharper than expected. Players had high hopes that the game’s token would maintain a stronger market value. However, the game’s founders have maintained that they are working on expanding the Hamster Kombat ecosystem, which they believe will attract new users and eventually stabilize the token’s price.

Teasing Season 2 and New Gameplay

Despite the challenges, Hamster Kombat’s team appears to be moving forward with their plans. The game has announced the upcoming launch of “Season 2,” which is expected to roll out by the end of this month. 

In this new phase, players will take on the role of running virtual gaming platforms, expanding on the previous season’s concept where users acted as CEOs of virtual cryptocurrency exchanges. The team has also reserved 15% of the remaining HMSTR tokens for the second season.

Hamster Kombat’s founders are confident that the new gameplay features, combined with their ongoing integration of third-party games, will help grow the game’s user base. They also aim to bridge the gap between traditional gaming (web2) and blockchain gaming (web3), allowing players to interact with both types of platforms.

The founders said in a statement,

“We’re focusing on building a more immersive experience for players by connecting our metagame to other gaming ecosystems.”

Expansion Plans Beyond Telegram

One of Hamster Kombat’s goals for the future is to expand beyond Telegram, which is currently the primary platform for accessing the game. The game operates on The Open Network (TON) blockchain, which is integrated with Telegram’s messaging service. However, the team plans to target regions where Telegram is less prevalent to reach a wider audience.

In their latest statement, the developers mentioned ongoing collaborations with web2, web3, and desktop game developers. These partnerships aim to provide Hamster Kombat with access to new markets and users, potentially allowing players to share in-game assets across different titles. This would create a more integrated gaming experience, adding further value to the game’s token and ecosystem.

Mixed Player Reception

Since the token airdrop, many players have been vocal about their dissatisfaction, primarily around the number of tokens they received and how little they are now worth. Some users had expected higher payouts, given the initial hype, while others expressed concern over the game’s long-term viability. 

Hamster Kombat’s developers, however, seem confident in their ability to retain players and attract new ones, particularly through the new features and partnerships they have announced.