Cygames has cancelled the Umamusume: Pretty Derby concerts that were set to take place in Los Angeles this week, after the performers were unable to get visas to enter the United States. The two shows, planned for October 22nd and 23rd at the Peacock Theater, would have been the first live Umamusume event ever held in the US.
The news was shared through the game's official English X account late Monday night Pacific time (October 19th), which landed as October 20th for much of the world.
Cygames Explains The Cancellation
According to the statement, the team spent a long time trying to find a way to make the shows happen. "Although we have coordinated repeatedly with all parties concerned and explored every possible option in our efforts to make this event happen, we were unable to obtain the necessary visas for entry into the US, so we have come to the painful conclusion that holding the concerts is no longer possible," Cygames wrote.
Players got a warning the day before. In a notice posted on the official Umamusume site on Sunday evening Pacific time (October 18th), Cygames revealed that it had been working with US lawyers and promoters for over six months to get the visas approved, and that they still had not come through. The studio set a deadline of 10:00 PM Pacific on October 19th to make a final call, and ultimately announced the cancellation shortly before that cutoff.
The studio also apologized for the short notice, saying it was sorry "for announcing this so close to the event date."
Refunds For In-Person And Streaming Tickets
Both on-site tickets and streaming tickets will be refunded. Fans who bought through AXS online or over the phone will see the money returned automatically to their original card within 30 business days, according to the Peacock Theater, while anyone who purchased elsewhere will need to go through their original point of purchase.
Cygames also said it is "looking into possible responses to Trainers who were planning to attend the concert in person." The studio did not say what that might involve, but with many fans likely having booked flights and hotels for the trip, some kind of make-good would go a long way. Details will be shared on the 7th EVENT WORLD TOUR official site once they are ready.
The Global Tour Continues Elsewhere
The Los Angeles stop was part of the Umamusume: Pretty Derby 7th EVENT WORLD TOUR "THE STAGE", the franchise's first live event series to travel outside of Japan. It started with two shows at Ariake Arena in Tokyo on June 20th and 21st, and Cygames used the second night to announce that Los Angeles would be the next stop, with London, Seoul, and Yokohama to follow.
Those three remaining stops are still on the schedule, although none of them have dates yet. Cygames has not said whether it plans to try for a US concert again in the future.
A Tough Break For The Game's Western Players
The timing stings because the US show was a clear sign of how much the game has grown outside Japan. Umamusume: Pretty Derby was a massive hit in its home country for years before the English version arrived on PC and mobile, and that global launch brought a huge wave of new Trainers into the series. The concerts are a big part of the franchise, with the voice cast performing the songs and dances their characters do after races in the game.
The English version of the game has kept rolling along in the meantime. Just yesterday (October 20th), new 3-star versions of Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond arrived in the Pretty Derby Scout, alongside new SSR Support Cards for Special Week and Sweep Tosho and a run of daily free 10x scouts, so there is at least plenty to do in game while fans wait for news on what Cygames has planned.
Should Cygames bring the Los Angeles show back once the visa issues are sorted, or would you rather see it add new tour stops in other countries instead?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.