The Telegram-based game X Empire is set to launch its X token on The Open Network (TON), but controversy is already brewing among its players. While the token reveal was highly anticipated, many users were left disappointed after discovering they were ineligible for the airdrop. Surprisingly, some players have even reached out to Elon Musk—who is not connected to the game—voicing their dissatisfaction.
X Empire’s Token Allocation Leaves Players Upset
The game, which will begin trading X tokens on October 24, revealed its airdrop allocations last Friday. Players were informed of how many X tokens they could expect, along with the option to choose a withdrawal method, either through a self-custody TON wallet or centralized exchanges like OKX and Bybit.
However, backlash quickly followed. Social media platforms were flooded with complaints from users who felt they were unfairly excluded from the airdrop. The game’s creator, Alex Falcon, addressed these grievances on Telegram, explaining that “active friends” were a major factor in determining eligibility, alongside other metrics like profit-per-hour and quest completion.
Millions Eligible, Yet Millions More Disappointed
According to Falcon, 6 million players were eligible for the airdrop, though the game claims to have attracted over 50 million total users. Telegram data suggests that nearly 34 million players have been active in the last month alone. Many players were quick to criticize the “active friends” metric, arguing that it unfairly impacted airdrop distributions. Several players even tagged Elon Musk on Twitter, with one stating, “They rejected people, totally scam and unfair,” and another claiming the project was a “scam backed by your name.”
Despite the confusion, Musk has not responded to the tweets, as he has no affiliation with the game. Interestingly, X Empire initially launched as “Musk Empire,” but quickly changed its name—likely to avoid potential legal challenges.
A Pattern of Airdrop Complaints in Telegram Games
This isn’t the first time a Telegram-based game has faced pushback over its airdrop policies. Recent games like Catizen and Hamster Kombat also saw significant criticism for what players described as unclear allocation criteria and insufficient rewards for their time spent playing. X Empire developers have attempted to calm the situation by highlighting the X token’s future utility, including upcoming apps like a news feed and sleep tracking app. Additionally, players will receive shares of tokens from other Telegram games in development.
Conclusion
While X Empire seeks to assure players that future developments will justify their investment, the current dissatisfaction surrounding the airdrop is clear. Whether the game can win back frustrated users remains to be seen. For now, some have taken their complaints directly to Musk—even though he’s not involved.
