The crypto gaming world continues to thrive, with major token airdrops, game updates, and viral gameplay moments making headlines. From X Empire’s token rollout to Hamster Kombat’s Season 2 reveal, here’s your roundup of the week’s biggest stories.
X Empire Airdrop Sparks Debate
The Telegram-based tap-to-earn game X Empire concluded its “Chill Phase” last week, paving the way for the X token launch on The Open Network (TON) this Thursday, October 24.
Following a monthslong mining phase that ended on September 30, the developers reopened the game for a brief two weeks, offering an additional 5% of the token supply to players. However, the airdrop’s rollout has faced criticism, as only 6 million of the game’s 50 million players qualified to receive tokens.
Adding to the confusion, some players mistakenly directed complaints to Elon Musk on Twitter, despite the fact that Musk has no affiliation with the game—even though its former name and visuals played off his likeness.
Hamster Kombat Season 2 Introduces a New Twist
The developers of Hamster Kombat, a hit Telegram crypto game, revealed exciting changes for Season 2. The upcoming season is set to launch later this November, promising a fresh experience for fans of the original.
This season, players will transition from running a hamster-operated crypto exchange to managing a game development studio. You’ll recruit team members, create games, and launch a platform—all while retaining elements like tapping gameplay and daily combos. Early previews suggest a more strategic focus with tasks that require several days to complete.
Off The Grid Goes Mainstream
The Avalanche-based battle royale shooter Off The Grid has captured widespread attention since its launch two weeks ago, quickly becoming the most popular free-to-play title on the Epic Games Store.
The buzz carried into last week with viral clips from big-name streamers like Ninja and TimTheTatman showcasing its dynamic gameplay. Ninja highlighted the “Slam Fist” cyberlimb, while TimTheTatman impressed with a midair snipe to secure victory.
The game’s success is drawing traditional gamers into the crypto space, signaling a potential shift toward mainstream acceptance of blockchain gaming.
ICYMI: Other Highlights from the Week
- Animoca Brands’ Vision: CEO Robby Yung believes all Web3 projects will soon have Telegram integrations.
- Azra Games Raises $42.7M: The mobile RPG studio secured funding in a Pantera Capital-led round.
- Heroes of Mavia: This Clash of Clans clone will roll out land NFT integration this month.
- Call of Duty Tackles Toxicity: The ToxMod AI system has blocked over 45 million toxic messages since 2023.
- Loot Legends Goes Live: The mobile game launched on iOS and Android with a play-to-airdrop campaign.
- Parallel vs. Twitch: Parallel’s co-founder criticized Twitch for blocking its NFT card game ads while allowing competitors like Hearthstone.
- Immutable zkEVM Expands Access: The Ethereum layer-2 gaming network removed its deployer allowlist, opening development to all.
- Paravox Tournament Announced: The 3v3 shooter will host a Latin American esports event with a $130K prize pool.
