Iranian government officials and hardliners have sharply criticized the growing popularity of the play-to-earn blockchain game Hamster Kombat. They claim the game serves as a soft power tool projected by Western nations to distract Iranians from the country’s upcoming presidential elections.
Habibollah Sayyari, the deputy chief of the Iranian military, asserted that Hamster Kombat is designed to divert the attention of the Iranian population. His concerns were echoed by Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi, a religious authority, who labeled the entire field of cryptocurrencies as riddled with fraud.
Economic Context and Blockchain Gaming
These criticisms come against the backdrop of severe economic challenges in Iran. Western sanctions and soaring inflation have significantly impacted the country’s economy, with the current exchange rate at 1 U.S. dollar to 580,000 Iranian rials.
In such dire financial circumstances, blockchain games have emerged as a potential economic lifeline for many Iranians. The success of NFT games like Axie Infinity in other developing countries illustrates this trend. At its peak, players of Axie Infinity reported earnings of up to $1,300 per month, providing a substantial income source.
While the entry cost for Axie Infinity was relatively high, organized gaming guilds helped players in developing countries manage these costs and still achieve significant profits.
Also Read: Axie Infinity Co-founder’s $9.7 Million ETH Theft
The State of Blockchain Gaming
Despite the traction blockchain games have gained in the developing world, they are still far from mainstream adoption. A recent OnePoll survey indicated that 52% of respondents were unaware of blockchain gaming, and another 32% knew about it but had never played a blockchain game.
These statistics point to both a large untapped market and the significant challenges facing play-to-earn games. Issues such as real token utility and the lack of engaging gameplay mechanics compared to traditional console and PC games remain barriers to broader acceptance.
