Controversial game Hamster Kombat, which has raised suspicions about its Russian background, faces lawsuit from early investors accusing the founder of not honoring agreements after the game gained popularity.

French mainstream media Le Monde reported that within just three months, a game called Hamster Kombat on the messaging app Telegram has attracted 240 million players worldwide, a staggering number comparable to the 2016 craze of "Pokémon Go." However, unlike "Pokémon Go," Hamster Kombat remains relatively unknown in France, partly due to Telegram's lesser popularity compared to WhatsApp in the country. Yet, in Russian-speaking countries and Iran, where Telegram is widely used, the game has quickly gained market share, while also raising concerns about its owners and their connections to the Kremlin.

Hamster Kombat: Simple Yet Addictive Gameplay

Hamster Kombat stands out with its unique concept and easy-to-pick-up gameplay. Players take on the role of a hamster running a cryptocurrency company, utilizing a clicker-style gameplay where the main objective is to accumulate earnings through continuous clicks. Games of this genre typically focus on repetitive actions, making them simple yet addictive. However, Hamster Kombat offers an additional allure: the chance to win the upcoming new cryptocurrency token $HAMSTR.

Guaranteed Real Profits to Attract the Masses

The main highlight of Hamster Kombat is that players can translate their time spent into actual profits, thanks to its cryptocurrency. The random airdrop mechanism, which distributes tokens for free and at random, is one of the key reasons why the game has gained popularity.

According to ddlad, an administrator of the Telegram group Hamster Kombat FR, this is a crucial factor behind the game's popularity surge. However, what attracts players is not just the appeal of cryptocurrency; ddlad emphasizes the high quality of the game compared to traditional clicker games.

The Mysterious Russian Shadow Behind the Success

Despite quickly gaining popularity, the identity of Hamster Kombat's founder raises doubts. It is rumored that the owner of the app has business dealings with high-ranking officials in the Kremlin in Russia, prompting some observers to question the true intentions and potential impact of the game. In the context where cryptocurrency and games are often linked to financial and political issues, the sudden rise of Hamster Kombat raises legitimate concerns.

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Nevertheless, the developers of Hamster Kombat remain anonymous, stating publicly that they chose to remain anonymous just like the inventor of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto.

Possible Legal Battles for the Founders of Hamster Kombat

Hamster Kombat is currently embroiled in a legal dispute in Russia. This conflict involves its alleged founder Eduard Gurinovich and one of its early investors, the IT holding company Ad.ru. As questions regarding ownership and financial interests emerge, the confrontation between the two parties escalates.

According to a report by the prominent Russian online newspaper Lenta.ru, Gurinovich developed "Hamster Kombat" through a company named Arenum. Ad.ru invested $600,000 in Arenum in 2020, holding a 25% stake in the company. Initially positioned as a platform focused on gaming and esports to attract a large audience, Arenum was forced to shift to token issuance in 2021 to raise $10 million to sustain the project due to financial issues.

Despite raising substantial funds, Ad.ru claims they were excluded financially and received minimal updates from Arenum. In 2024, "Hamster Kombat" was launched under Arenum and quickly gained widespread attention. However, this success story quickly turned sour as disputes over project ownership surfaced, intensifying the conflict.

Anton Gorshkov, CEO of Ad.ru, accuses Gurinovich of initially acknowledging the connection between his company and "Hamster Kombat" but later denying any formal involvement. Gorshkov stated, "At first, he said, 'Don't worry, by autumn, everyone will get their share of the money.' Suddenly, he changed his tune and said, 'You have nothing to do with this project. We used the same team, but the names are different.'"

Documents reviewed by Lenta.ru reportedly confirm the link between Arenum and "Hamster Kombat." The game's domain was registered with an email address associated with Alexander Pasechnik, a co-founder of Arenum, further supporting Ad.ru's allegations.

Information about the founders of "Hamster Kombat" has remained highly mysterious, as they have chosen to remain anonymous. In a crypto media interview in July, the development team mentioned rejecting proposals from many venture capital firms but did not disclose any connections with Ad.ru or other angel investors. This secrecy further fuels speculation and adds more complexity to the ongoing legal dispute.