Horse-girl gacha game Umamusume: Pretty Derby has revealed an official partnership with real life horse racing event the Breeders’ Cup in order to celebrate the release of the game in English later this year. News of the partnership was unveiled on Oct. 1 by release, but unveiled in social posts across the internet a day later.
As part of the partnership Umamusume developer Cygames will sponsor a race at the 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. At the event, Cygames will be the name-in-title partner of the $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), which will be held on Nov. 2.
As mentioned, the partnership is in celebration of the upcoming launch of the English version of Umamusume: Pretty Derby, a simulation game that debuted in Japan in 2021.
The game is an anime-inspired mobile-based gacha game set in a world where great race horses of the past are reincarnated as horse girls with similar speed and racing capability. Players attempt to raise and race these horse girls as part of the gameplay loop, although there is a surprising lack of a gambling component.
Umamusume: Pretty Derby also has an anime adaptation and several manga based on the media franchise, which would presumably make this game fall under the banner of an anime game. The anime aired three seasons, one spin-off, and several short web series between 2018 and 2023. A film debuted in 2024, and another spin off series, Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray is set to air in 2025.
Image Credit: Cygames
“We are delighted to welcome Cygames as a new official partner of the World Championships,” said Heather Higgins, senior vice president of corporate partnerships for Breeders’ Cup Limited.
“Cygames is a leading brand in the gaming world and, like the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, is committed to delivering high-quality entertainment to a global audience.”
“It is my great honor to announce our partnership with one of the world’s most prestigious institutions in horse racing, the Breeders’ Cup,” said Koichi Watanabe, president of Cygames.
“Cygames’ mission is to bring ‘The Best in Entertainment’ to a global audience through our works and public endeavors. As part of that vision, we are releasing the English language version of Umamusume: Pretty Derby, a game heavily influenced by the world of horse racing. Our hope is to forge a relationship with racing enthusiasts through our partnership with the Breeders’ Cup and provide another avenue for potential fans to discover our content.”
Tokyo-based Cygames is renowned for the development and management of numerous mobile and console game titles including Umamusume: Pretty Derby and Granblue Fantasy: Relink, as well as various ventures in the animation and comic industries. The company’s vision of being the best in entertainment is reflected in its constant efforts to bring original and exciting experiences to the world.
The Breeders’ Cup World Championships are Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championship. The 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, featuring 14 Grade 1 Championship races run during a two-day festival worth more than $34 million in purses and awards, will be held Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar in Del Mar, California.
