Viral mobile game Umamusume: Pretty Derby is sponsoring IRL horse race

Umamusume: Pretty Derby devs are sponsoring one of Europe’s most prestigious real-world horse races, the Grand Prix de Paris. 

Taking the world by storm, Umamusume: Pretty Derby is a mobile gacha game that allows players to train, race, and bond with anime characters inspired by racehorses like Silence Suzuka and Haru Urara.

While the Japanese version was released back in 2021, Umamusume exploded in popularity worldwide following its long-awaited global release on June 26. Since then, fans have been busy learning about the real-life horses, visiting the real-life ranches, sending gifts, and sharing their wins and losses in viral posts. 

Even popular streamers like Ludwig and Northernlion have been streaming the game. Now, Cygames is riding Umamusume’s popularity all the way to real-world horse racing by sponsoring the Grand Prix de Paris. 

Umamusume: Pretty Derby sponsoring Grand Prix de Paris 

The Grand Prix de Paris takes place at ParisLongchamp Racecourse, Paris, and is a historic horse racing event that has been running since 1863. However, this year it will be officially titled the Cygames Grand Prix de Paris to coincide with the partnership. 

From July 13, there will be a total of three races that spectators can watch, with a €600,000/$700,000 cash prize being the biggest reward up for grabs. 

“It is a great honor to partner with France Galop, organizers of such prestigious French horse racing events as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and we are incredibly proud to be appointed main sponsor of a race as storied as the Grand Prix de Paris,” said Koichi Watanabe, President of Cygames. 

“Cygames strives to share dreams and smiles with a global audience as the best in entertainment… We have put our deepest appreciation for the history and culture of racing into the game, and we hope that as the first Japanese company to partner with France Galop, our passion will reach countless racing fans on the Grand Prix de Paris’s global stage.”

This isn’t the first time Umamusume devs have teamed up with a real-life horse race, as on April 21, they backed the 151st Kentucky Derby. You can read all about the event by heading over to the official website.