$2.5bn maker Uma Musume: Pretty Derby opens pre-registrations, cantering towards English release June 26th

Horse girl racer and Japanese revenue goliath Uma Musume: Pretty Derby is cantering towards English release on June 26th, 2025.

After surpassing $2.5 billion in gross revenue in Japan this spring, the racer’s international expansion has taken its next step with pre-registrations now open for the English language version.

Cygames is incentivising pre-registrations with various rewards available to English-speaking future players, including 3,750 Carats, enough for 25 in-game gacha pulls. Other rewards include 30 Goddess Statues and 45 Alarm Clocks, used to buy shards and re-attempt failed race objectives, respectively.

At the races

After briefly becoming the world’s third-biggest monthly earner out of all mobile games in 2021, Uma Musume: Pretty Derby went on to be the top-grossing mobile title in Japan that year and in 2022.

Cygames first teased a Western release for its multi-billion hit in June 2024 with the launch of an English trailer, website and X (formerly Twitter) account – almost one full year before the upcoming launch.

A demo also appeared at the Anime Expo in LA in July last year, further solidifying an eventual English launch for iOS and Android.

Now, with a release date and Steam launch confirmed, players can pre-register for their role in Tracen Academy where they will train athletic, 3D anime girls inspired by real Japanese thoroughbreds.

Jungle Pocket, Orfevre, Durandal and others each come with their own stats, skills and aptitudes, with a training formula that shares similarities to QualiArts’ Gakuen Idolmaster.

The West’s increasing embrace of Japanese media, especially among Gen Z, and the international success of anime-style games like Genshin Impact and Goddess of Victory: Nikke may well have paved the way for Cygames horse girl racer to reach the English-speaking world – evidently deemed worthy of localisation costs.

A pre-registration promotional event has also launched wherein one user who follows the official English X account and reposts the event post will receive roundtrip plane tickets to Japan. Ten runners-up will receive $50 Amazon gift cards while five others will win an Uma Musume: Pretty Derby keychain set.

“Pre-register now on iOS/Android or add to your Steam Wishlist. Follow us and repost for a chance to win a trip to Japan,” the X post stated.