The launch of the highly anticipated $HMSTR token, tied to the popular play-to-earn game Hamster Kombat, has left many players frustrated.
Despite the initial excitement surrounding the token, players have earned far less than expected, with most receiving only around $10 for months of gameplay.
Hamster Kombat, which gained widespread popularity in countries like India and Nigeria, promised lucrative rewards for its dedicated player base. However, the reality has been underwhelming.
In India, players have earned roughly ₹830, with each token valued at around ₹0.70. Nigerian players have received about ₦7,800, with the token priced at ₦13.39.
Many players, often referred to as “hamster CEOs” within the game’s community, had hoped for larger returns when the token went live on major exchanges like Binance and OKX.
However, the launch price of $HMSTR at just $0.0081 per token meant that even those who accumulated thousands of tokens saw minimal payouts.
One dedicated player shared with The Crypto Times that after earning approximately 1,300 $HMSTR tokens, their total rewards equated to just $10, a figure far below expectations.
Similar stories emerged across the community, with some players reporting receiving less than $5 in rewards from the token’s airdrop.
Adding to the disappointment, many users have found that exchanges typically do not allow trades below a certain threshold, effectively locking out those with smaller earnings.
Players have expressed their frustration on social media, with one reporting that they earned just $3.45 from their tokens after four months of playing.
The backlash hasn’t just been about low earnings. Before the token launch, Hamster Kombat disqualified over 2.3 million accounts for suspected cheating, leading to anger from players who felt they were unfairly penalized.
Additionally, the game delayed its airdrop multiple times, causing a steep decline in the number of active players. Within just a week, the player base dropped from 155 million to 87 million.
