You Won’t Believe What’s Galloping into the Kentucky Derby…

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Cygames has confirmed they will sponsor the 151st Kentucky Derby and offer playable versions of their games during the event. One of these games is Uma Musume: Pretty Derby, an entertaining title where you collect and race anthropomorphic horse characters.

Collaborations between anime games, media, and sports aren’t uncommon these days. Notable franchises such as One Piece, Hololive, and Goddess of Victory: NIKKE have made their way into major U.S. sports leagues over the last few years.

Despite the seeming oddity, a Japanese game developer participating in the Kentucky Derby does exist, given today’s diverse sports scene in America. The motivation behind this unusual move is to publicize Uma Musume: Pretty Derby, one of Japan’s top gacha games.

Among four other games, they will have their debut in the United States during the Kentucky Derby.

Cygames uses Kentucky Derby to advertise horse girl gacha

On April 21st, Cygames officially announced their participation, not only securing a large booth but also taking on the role of the event’s title sponsor.

Video game creator and innovator, Cygames, has formed a partnership with Churchill Downs Racetrack, famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby. This collaboration makes Cygames an official sponsor of the 151st Kentucky Derby. A horse race named the Unbridled Sidney Stakes, sponsored by Cygames, will be held on Kentucky Oaks Day, which falls on Friday, May 2.

The Unbridled Sidney Stakes represents a Grade III competition, which is the least elevated category among grades. Despite this, it’s an important and quality contest, but it falls short of meeting all the criteria required for the elite Grade I ranking.

To put it simply, the total amount up for grabs in this race is an impressive $400,000. This is significantly more than what’s usually offered for a Grade III competition. For your information, the minimum prize money for a Grade I event in North America is $300k. In other words, the prize pool for this event is unusually large, making it the largest in the history of the Unbridled Sidney Stakes.

A significant part of it is because Cygames served as a major sponsor, and their logo was prominently displayed throughout the event.

On Kentucky Oaks Day, falling on Friday, May 2nd, it was disclosed that Cygames will sponsor the Unbridled Sidney Stakes. Throughout this event, the Cygames logo will be showcased on the starting gate, towels used by competing horses, and signage at the finish line.

At the event, not only are they preparing Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, and Granblue Fantasy: Relink for gameplay, but it’s Uma Musume: Pretty Derby that steals the limelight.

This is a game from the gacha genre that’s been popular in Japan since 2021. Fans of the original anime are eagerly waiting for its U.S. release, although we don’t yet know when that will happen. However, it has been confirmed that the game can be played at an upcoming event, making it a must-visit for dedicated series enthusiasts.

Derby, which is quite attractive to look at, primarily focuses on training and amassing a variety of characters, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. During races, you essentially take a seat and observe. The interactive elements are limited to enhancing the abilities of your preferred racers.

It’s clear that the series is adored by its fanbase, and the game has generated a staggering 2.5 billion dollars in gross revenue, particularly in Japan. It’s no surprise then that Cygames has the financial means to invest heavily in events like the Kentucky Derby.

Although the exact release date for Pretty Derby hasn’t been confirmed yet, considering they are the title sponsor of the Kentucky Derby, it seems likely that we will see its release in the Western region quite soon.

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2025-04-23 00:48