Telegram tap-to-earn game X Empire is set to launch its X token on The Open Network (TON) this Thursday, but players are already expressing frustration over the airdrop allocations. The game, which features an Elon Musk-inspired theme, has sparked controversy as some players claim they were unfairly excluded from receiving rewards.
X Empire recently disclosed the allocations for the airdrop, revealing to players how many X tokens they can expect to receive when trading begins on October 24. Players were also given the option to choose between a self-custody TON wallet or a centralized exchange like OKX or Bybit for their withdrawals.
Despite these efforts to be transparent, many players took to social media to voice their displeasure at being left out of the airdrop. In response to the backlash, X Empire creator Alex Falcon explained that criteria such as “active friends,” profit-per-hour mark, and quest completion were taken into account when determining eligibility for the airdrop.
Falcon assured players that 6 million X Empire participants would receive a share of the airdrop, out of the game’s reported 50 million total players. However, some players argue that the emphasis on “active friends” unfairly impacted the allocation process. Some disgruntled players even reached out to Elon Musk on Twitter, despite the fact that the Tesla CEO has no affiliation with the game.
The controversy surrounding X Empire’s airdrop allocations is not unique in the world of Telegram games. Previous games like Catizen and Hamster Kombat also faced backlash from players who felt misled about the criteria for receiving rewards.
In an attempt to address player concerns, X Empire developers have stated that the X token will have future utility in upcoming apps from the team, including a news feed and a sleep tracking app. Additionally, players can expect to receive tokens from other Telegram games in the future.
As of now, Elon Musk has not responded to the tweets from frustrated X Empire players. It remains to be seen how the game will navigate this controversy as it moves forward with its token launch on TON.