Umamusume: Pretty Derby English Version Launches Globally, Packed with Events & Giveaways

Umamusume Pretty Derby

Cygames has officially launched the English version of Umamusume: Pretty Derby, the widely popular simulation game that has already surpassed 30 million downloads across Asia.

Now available on iOS, Android, and PC (via Steam and Google Play Games), the English release brings a host of quality-of-life improvements and global content to fans old and new.

Originally a hit mobile game in Japan, Umamusume: Pretty Derby blends idol training, racing, and slice-of-life storytelling. Players train anthropomorphized racehorse girls—each inspired by real-life thoroughbreds—who aim to win prestigious races like the Twinkle Series.

With its vibrant anime aesthetic and strong narrative themes, the game is also part of a broader multimedia franchise, including anime, music, and manga.

In terms of revenue, it made over $2.5 billion in its home country alone, as per Appmagic data. The title became Japan's highest-grossing game in 2021 and 2022, and still to generate over $10 million on mobile every month, even four years later.

To better suit international players, the English version includes several optimizations right out of the gate. While core features and event durations remain intact, the pace has been slightly quickened. Cygames has also enabled several features early that were only rolled out later in the Japanese version, such as race landscape mode and an in-game jukebox.

Another standout feature is its cross-platform support. Players can link accounts across mobile and PC platforms, making it easier to hop between devices without losing progress.

To celebrate the launch, Cygames has kicked off a giveaway campaign running now to July 10 via the game’s official X account. Prizes include an iPhone 16 Pro, multiple sets of AirPods Pro 2, and in-game currency totaling 500,000 carats, distributed among 100 winners. It’s a festive rollout designed to keep the community buzzing.

The excitement doesn’t stop there. Umamusume: Pretty Derby's complete soundtrack—around 1,000 tracks—has also gone live on major global music platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.

Cygames is also making waves offline. The company will participate in Anime Expo 2025 (Los Angeles) and Japan Expo 2025 (Paris) with booths showcasing Umamusume content and special subtitled screenings of the movie Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Beginning of a New Era.

In a unique real-world collaboration, Cygames has teamed up with Round1 USA to sell collectible Umamusume game cards at its arcades starting June 30. A limited number will be available for free at Anime Expo, and a future social media giveaway will offer a $100 preloaded game card as a prize.

To further introduce the franchise, the first three episodes of the Umamusume anime are now free to watch on Crunchyroll’s official YouTube channel, complete with multilingual subtitles.

In real-world partnerships, the company has recently collaborated with top-tier events like the 151st Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup. Most recently, they announced sponsorship of France’s Grand Prix de Paris, happening in July 2025.