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Jimmy Aki
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Jimmy Aki
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The viral Telegram-based game Hamster Kombat faces an uncertain future as internal conflicts and disputes with investors threaten to derail its progress.
Recent reports have shed light on tensions within the project, potentially impacting the highly anticipated HMSTR token airdrop and overall development.
Background of Hamster Kombat’s Internal Conflict
The controversy began on August 16 when local media outlet Lenta.ru reported internal conflicts within the Hamster Kombat team, centering on a dispute with investor AD.RU.
The article, which was later removed, alleged that the game’s creators refused to share profits with AD.RU despite its significant involvement in financing and developing key mechanics for the project.
Anton Gorshkov, CEO of AD.RU, claims that his firm played a crucial role in the game’s development.
According to Gorshkov, AD.RU initially invested $600,000 in a collaboration proposed by Eduard Gurinovich in 2020 for a mobile gaming and esports platform called Arenum. Gurinovich is a Russian IT entrepreneur and is reportedly known as one of the masterminds behind Hamster Kombat.
This investment gave AD.RU an 18.6% stake, which later increased to 25% after the company’s marketing efforts helped secure over $1 million in additional investments.
However, Gurinovich refuted AD.RU’s claims in June 2024, stating that the company had no role in developing Hamster Kombat.
In response, AD.RU presented a technical report that showed that Hamster Kombat’s servers share the same hosting as Arenum.
The domain “hamsterkombat.io” was also registered using the corporate email [email protected], associated with Arenum’s co-founder Alexander Pasechnik.
Gorshkov has reportedly sent a pre-trial claim to Gurinovich, hinting at potential legal challenges ahead for the Hamster Kombat project.
Hamster Kombat’s woes further deepened in August when marketing director Nikita Anufriev left the project.
Anufriev claimed he was promised 25% of the company’s revenue or shares, which never materialized.
He asserts that he played a key role in promoting the game globally and securing strategic partnerships, including a $450,000 investment.
Anufriev stated that instead of sharing profits, the team chose to return funds to early investors, which has caused discord among influencers and participants who feel their contributions to the game’s success have been undervalued.
Implications of the Conflict for Airdrop Farmers and HMSTR Token Launch
These internal conflicts could have significant implications for Hamster Kombat players and the future of the project.
The HMSTR token airdrop, initially scheduled for late July to allocate 60% of its airdrop token to dedicated players, was postponed indefinitely. The team cited technical complexities with the TON blockchain and potential network overload as reasons for the delay.
Legal and financial disputes may force the team to divert attention from project growth and development.
Moreover, ongoing disagreements could disrupt funding, potentially leading to server stability issues or even temporary outages.
The delay in the HMSTR airdrop has triggered disappointment and skepticism within the Hamster Kombat community.
Players have expressed frustration over the lack of a specific date for the airdrop distribution, especially as the team continues to introduce new gaming activities.
Despite these challenges, Hamster Kombat’s social media following remains strong.
As of August 19, the project boasts 35.1 million subscribers on YouTube and 12.6 million followers on X (formerly Twitter).
