Escalating Internal Conflicts Plague Hamster Kombat
Hamster Kombat, the tap-to-earn game token that has captured significant attention, now faces a potential crisis.
According to Russian media outlet Lenta.ru, internal conflicts have erupted within the Hamster Kombat team, centering on a dispute with investor AD.RU.
The controversy stems from allegations that the game’s creators have refused to share profits with AD.RU, despite the investor's critical role in financing and developing key mechanics for the project.
Anton Gorshkov, CEO of AD.RU, asserts that his firm was instrumental in the game's development, following a 2020 collaboration proposal from Eduard Gurinovich, a Russian IT entrepreneur and reputedly one of the masterminds behind Hamster Kombat.
Gorshkov revealed that AD.RU initially invested $600,000 in the project, securing an 18.6% stake.
Through strategic marketing, AD.RU helped attract over $1 million in additional investments, raising their stake to 25%.
Despite these significant contributions, Gorshkov claims that AD.RU has yet to receive any profits, accusing the Hamster Kombat team of offering empty promises.
In June 2024, Gurinovich refuted these accusations, insisting that AD.RU had no involvement in developing Hamster Kombat.
In response, AD.RU presented a technical report showing that Hamster Kombat's servers share the same hosting as Arenum, another project linked to Gurinovich.
Moreover, the domain hamsterkombat.io was registered with a corporate email tied to Arenum’s co-founder, Alexander Pasechnik.
These findings form the crux of AD.RU's claims against the Hamster Kombat team.
Gorshkov has since issued a pre-trial claim against Gurinovich, signalling potential legal battles on the horizon.
Gurinovich’s denials have sparked outrage among users on platforms like X, particularly as Hamster Kombat continues to trend.
The technical evidence linking the game’s infrastructure to Arenum suggests a deeper connection and raises questions about Gurinovich's motives.
This unfolding legal drama highlights the fragility of partnerships in the gaming industry and underscores the necessity for clear and transparent agreements to avoid such disputes.
Departure of Staff Who Played Key Role in Game's Global Promotion
Tensions within Hamster Kombat have escalated following the recent departure of marketing director Nikita Anufriev.
Anufriev alleges that he was promised 25% of the company’s revenue or shares, a commitment that was never fulfilled.
He asserts that his efforts were crucial in promoting the game on a global scale, securing strategic partnerships, and attracting a $450,000 investment.
However, instead of sharing profits, the team chose to return funds to early investors, a decision that has sparked discord among influencers and contributors who feel their roles in the game's success have been undervalued.
Anufriev shared in an interview with Lenta.ru:
"Opinion leaders and everyone involved in the project are convinced that without active support from influencers, the project would not have achieved such success, and instead of words of gratitude for a ready-made business and tens of millions of dollars in income from advertising integrations, the founders also decided to return the investments to early investors, which opinion leaders and any sane person would consider offensive towards themselves, so they went public to express their dissatisfaction. Apparently, the situation inside and around the project is heating up. At the moment, I refuse to disclose the details of leaving the project, but perhaps in the near future I will be forced to share information if nothing changes, for the safety of users, influencers and investors, so that they can make calm and independent decisions."
Below is the original text he shared in Telegram.
Anufriev's public criticism of the founders for breaking their promises on revenue sharing underscores a deeper issue: the alienation of key influencers and partners who were instrumental in driving the game's popularity.
This growing rift highlights the increasing internal turmoil that could threaten the future of Hamster Kombat.
3.0TV reached out to Anufriev on X for an interview with regard to his recent experiences with Hamster Kombat; Anufriev has yet to respond as at the time of writing, the request was less than an hour ago.
Indefinite Postponement of HMSTR token airdrop
The internal conflicts within Hamster Kombat have begun to spill over into the technical aspects of the project, notably affecting the rollout of the much-anticipated HMSTR token airdrop.
Initially scheduled for late July, the airdrop, which was set to allocate 60% of its tokens to dedicated players, has been postponed indefinitely.
The team has cited technical challenges with the TON blockchain and concerns over potential network overload as reasons for the delay, alongside the inherent complexities of executing such an event.
This delay has triggered widespread dissatisfaction and frustration within the community, particularly among players eager to receive their tokens.
In response, Hamster Kombat introduced an "Airdrop allocation points" tracker in its Telegram mini app, though the points system has yet to go live.
The project has also introduced new games, perhaps in hopes that people forget about HMSTR's airdrop delay?
The indefinite postponement of the HMSTR airdrop has dealt a significant blow to the project, particularly after months of anticipation.
For many players, the opportunity to earn through the game's token was a primary incentive.
The ongoing internal strife and lack of clarity on the airdrop's future could erode player trust, potentially leading to a mass exodus from the platform.
On X, there are speculations that the aidrop will be in September but nothing has been posted on Hamster Kombat's X account at the time of writing.
What're The Potential Consequences of Internal Conflicts?
Internal conflicts within Hamster Kombat could have serious repercussions for its players and the future of the project.
Legal and financial disputes might force the team to shift focus away from critical areas like growth, development, and server stability.
These disruptions could threaten funding, leading to potential server issues or even temporary outages.
In the worst-case scenario, infrastructure problems could severely impact gameplay, further alienating the user base.
What was once a rapidly rising star in the gaming world is now at risk of being derailed by internal discord.
Without a swift and decisive resolution, Hamster Kombat could serve as a cautionary tale of how internal strife can unravel even the most promising ventures.
Burn Bright, Burn Fast: Is Hamster Kombat Burning Out?
Despite its immense popularity, Hamster Kombat has been plagued with a multitude of escalating issues.
More people on X have stated their frustration and suspicions.
All these are just the peak of the iceberg.
Will everything cumulate in this token project's downfall or will it miraculously stand out on top?
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