Love in an Enchanted Realm
Nine years have passed since the day that curse befell me. Today, for the first time, I return to the ruins of the house where I once lived with my parents.
Uma Musume: Pretty Derby Market and Revenue Analysis 2025
Written by Midnight Static, Programmer, Gamer, Tech Nerd, Animal Lover
Published on January 15, 2026
Developed by Cygames, Inc., Uma Musume: Pretty Derby (ウマ娘 プリティーダービー) has evolved from a domestic mobile sensation in Japan to one of the biggest global mobile gacha phenomenon of 2025. Combining horse-racing simulation with character training and idol-style storytelling, the game’s unique blend of genres has helped it stand out in an increasingly crowded live-service game ecosystem.
Table of Contents
Game Performance and Milestones
Launch and Early Growth:
Uma Musume: Pretty Derby first released in Japan on February 24, 2021, initially attracting huge domestic engagement through iOS and Android platforms, and later on PC via Steam and browser clients. By March 2025, the game had reportedly grossed over $2.5 billion in Japan alone — a landmark figure that made it one of Cygames’ most profitable titles.
Global Rollout:
On June 26, 2025, Cygames launched the English-language global version on iOS, Android, and Steam, finally opening the title to a worldwide audience outside Asia.
Commercial Recognition:
The global version quickly ascended mobile and Steam charts, and Uma Musume became one of the most profitable live-service games of 2025 — earning accolades and ranking among the top revenue drivers for its publisher’s quarterly financial results.
Uma Musume Revenue Statistics
Let’s examine the available revenue performance data for Uma Musume: Pretty Derby:
Lifetime Revenue
~$2.5 billion+ in Japan (pre-global) — accumulated from its 2021 release through early 2025, according to Sensor Tower estimates.
During the first month of global release, Uma Musume generated ~$34 million on mobile, with over half of that coming from outside Japan — a rare revenue distribution for a Japanese gacha title.
Let’s take a closer look at the game’s recent revenue performance:
| Month | Japan Revenue | Hong Kong Revenue | China Revenue | Korea Revenue | Global Revenue | ~Total Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2025 | $9,000,000 | $1,000,000 | $1,100,000 | $1,100,000 | $22,000,000 | $34 200 000 |
| Aug 2025 | $17,000,000 | $200,000 | $1,100,000 | $250,000 | $15,000,000 | $33 550 000 |
| Sep 2025 | $14,000,000 | $200,000 | $1,375,000 | $380,000 | $8,000,000 | $23 955 000 |
| Oct 2025 | $8,000,000 | $400,000 | $550,000 | $800,000 | $7,000,000 | $16 750 000 |
| Nov 2025 | $18,000,000 | $300,000 | $550,000 | $480,000 | $9,000,000 | $16 750 000 |
| Dec 2025 | $14,000,000 | $600,000 | $550,000 | $1,200,000 | $6,000,000 | 26 350 000 |
Market Analysis
Japan & Home Market
Japan remains the centerpiece of Uma Musume’s financial success. Before the global launch, the game dominated Japanese mobile charts, topping revenue rankings and contributing a large share of Cygames’ mobile revenue portfolio.
Despite some year-over-year declines from its early peak (e.g., almost $1 billion revenue in 2021 vs lower totals in later years), the game persisted as a high-earning evergreen title domestically due to regular live events, updates, and its vibrant fan community.
International Markets
The global rollout in June 2025 repositioned the revenue geography:
- United States has emerged as the most lucrative overseas market, accounting for the largest share of international spending in early months.
- Other Western markets such as Canada, UK, and Australia are fast-growing contributors.
- After two months post-launch, ~57% of mobile revenue since global release came from outside Japan, highlighting broadening appeal abroad.
This shift indicates Uma Musume’s potential to become a sustained global gacha contender rather than a predominantly domestic juggernaut.
Core Design and Monetization Structure
Gameplay Loop
Uma Musume: Pretty Derby is a hybrid simulation / training / racing gacha title, where players:
- Recruit and train anthropomorphized “horse girls” inspired by real racehorses.
- Progress them through races, performances, and narrative story arcs.
- Balance training regimens, stat growth, and event schedules to optimize outcomes.
This deep, layered loop appeals both to competitive players and narrative-focused audiences alike.
Monetization
The game employs gacha mechanics (character draws), premium currency, and time-limited events — standard in live-service mobile titles. Its revenue intensity is higher in Japan — where long-standing fans historically spend significantly — while in Western markets revenue per download has been lower but compensated by broader player reach.
Demographics
Uma Musume’s player base reflects a blend of dedicated mobile RPG fans, anime enthusiasts, and simulation gamers. In Japan, long-term domestic engagement has been bolstered by cultural affinity and franchise presence (including anime and media tie-ins).
Internationally, the game’s appeal has broadened thanks to global anime fandom and streaming visibility — with Steam and Twitch reports showing robust interest in North America and Europe.
Conclusion
Uma Musume: Pretty Derby stands as a case study in how a culturally specific mobile title can transition from domestic dominance to global commercial success. With multi-billion dollar revenue pre-global rollout and emerging international traction post-2025, Uma Musume exemplifies the evolving landscape for gacha live-service games — where global localization and community engagement are as crucial as loyal domestic performance.
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