The English version of the popular mobile gacha game Umamusume: Pretty Derby is set to launch soon, and to mark the occasion, its developer, Cygames, has announced an official partnership with the international thoroughbred horse racing organization, Breeders’ Cup.
As part of this collaboration, Cygames will become the title sponsor for the $2 million Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), which will take place on November 2 during the 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
The Breeders’ Cup, organized by Breeders’ Cup Limited since 1984, hosts 14 Grade 1 races under varying conditions across two days each year. Elite thoroughbreds from around the globe compete for a combined prize pool of $34 million.
Umamusume: Pretty Derby is an original multimedia project by Cygames that spans anime, games, and more, featuring charming anime-style horse girls named after real racehorses, with official authorization. The mobile game, launched in Japan in 2021, allows players to take on the role of trainers for these horse girls.
Following the release of the Chinese version in 2022, an English version was announced in late June 2024.
The Umamusume franchise has been a global commercial success, with its mobile gacha game generating over $2.4 billion in revenue by May 2024, accounting for more than two-thirds of Cygames’ total earnings.
The series has also been adapted into multiple anime seasons, further expanding its fanbase. Fans worldwide have embraced the adorable concept of anime horse girls representing real-life racehorses.
Cygames has a history of partnerships with real-world horse racing organizations. In addition to the collaboration with horse owners through the Japan Racing Association (JRA) for character naming, Cygames also makes long-term donations to support the Japan Retired Horse Racing Association charity to prevent thoroughbreds past their prime from being turned into glue.
Cygames CEO Koichi Watanabe expressed in a press release his enthusiasm for working with the Breeders’ Cup, aiming to connect with horse racing fans and introduce new audiences to their content.
The “Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint” will be held on a dirt track over a distance of 1,200 meters (about six furlongs). Cygames’ logo will feature on the starting gate and saddlecloths. The race is open to male and female thoroughbreds aged three and older, with a prize purse of $2 million.
While it may not be as fantastical as the idea of augmented reality anime horse girl racing, it’s the next best thing, highlighting Cygames’ deep passion and commitment to the sport of horse racing.
