Umamusume: Pretty Derby 1.5-Year Anniversary Update Brings Independent Training and New Career Scenario

It has been more than a year since Umamusume: Pretty Derby made its worldwide debut on June 26, 2025, and Cygames has prepared a significant update just in time for the game's 1.5-year anniversary celebration. Coming July 22, the version update will introduce the much-anticipated Independent Training feature to the English version, along with other major quality-of-life improvements and the brand-new Career Scenario Brighter Together: Our Grand Concert. Ahead of the update, we had the opportunity to ask the developers at Cygames about the new feature, how it works, and what players should expect.

What Is the Independent Training Feature?

Independent Training is a feature that allows you to train your Umamusume while you enjoy other parts of the game, or even while the game is closed. You initiate it when starting a Career playthrough, and it automatically finishes after a set amount of time. The idea is to give you more flexibility in your daily routine, so you can keep progressing without being glued to the screen. It's a quality-of-life improvement that aims to make the game more accessible for both long-time trainers and newcomers alike.

Why Was Independent Training Developed?

The game was originally released in Japan in 2021, when there was a high demand for stay-at-home entertainment. However, in the five years since, many people's lifestyles have changed significantly. Cygames wanted to adapt to these changes by offering a feature that respects your time. The goal is to lower the barrier to entry for prospective new players while improving the experience for veterans who may have less time to play. As the developers put it, "This new Independent Training feature was implemented with the goal of both improving the gaming experience of long-time trainers and lowering the barrier to entry for prospective new players."

Why Is It Releasing Early in the English Version?

Typically, the English version receives updates after the Japanese, Chinese, and Korean versions. However, this time the release of Independent Training has been moved up so that overseas players can experience this improvement as soon as possible. Cygames hopes that trainers will spread the word about how this feature makes the game more accessible. It's a rare case of simultaneous release across all language versions, and it required extra effort from the development team.

Challenges in Implementing Independent Training

Bringing Independent Training to the English version was not straightforward. With about four years' worth of updates separating the Japanese and English versions, the team had to do additional work to make it compatible. It was a difficult undertaking, but the team came together to give trainers around the world a better gaming experience. Not every feature could be made available immediately, as certain other mechanics are not yet released in the English version, but players can look forward to those in future updates.

Which Career Scenarios Support Independent Training?

Independent Training will be available for all previously released Career Scenarios, as well as the new Brighter Together: Our Grand Concert Scenario that launches with the 1.5-year anniversary. So whether you're revisiting older content or jumping into the new scenario, you can use Independent Training to progress.

How Does Independent Training Work?

Just like the regular Career mode, Independent Training is based around building a deck of support cards. You set your training focus—either Balanced, Stamina, or Sprint—and the system will prioritize attribute gains accordingly. You can also set up to ten skill hints to prioritize, and Career Event choices that provide those hints will be automatically selected. Goal races and objectives are treated differently during Independent Training, with the Career continuing even if certain objectives are not met. However, if you want more control, you can still train manually. Manual training generally produces much stronger Veteran Umamusume compared to Independent Training.

Can You View Gameplay Logs After Independent Training?

Yes. Once Independent Training is complete, you can view Career results, obtained skill hints, and Sparks, just as you would after a normal Career playthrough. This allows you to review your progress and make adjustments for future runs.

What Is the Greatest Strength of Independent Training?

From a developer's perspective, the greatest strength is the ability to train Umamusume while the game is closed. However, Cygames strongly recommends that you try the new Grand Concert Scenario manually first, as it offers a unique experience. Independent Training is meant for trainers who want to raise more Veteran Umamusume even when they have little or no time to play.

Introducing Brighter Together: Our Grand Concert

The new Career Scenario, Brighter Together: Our Grand Concert, has already been out in Japan for a while, but now it's coming to the global version. In this scenario, you train your Umamusume to succeed not only in racing but also in concerts. The story explores what live performances mean to Umamusume, who are born to run. You'll join event producer Light Hello as you aim to make the Grand Concert a hit. It's a unique blend of racing and musical performance that adds a new layer of strategy.

Unique Aspects of the Grand Concert Scenario

The ultimate goal is to make the Grand Concert a great success. As you carry out training, you accumulate Performance Points and learn new songs. These are used to achieve success at each of the four Promo Concerts, which are key to raising your attributes. Time is limited in a single Career playthrough, so finding the optimal balance between efficient training and gaining Performance Points is what makes this scenario unique and fun.

What Is the Highlight of the Story?

For Umamusume, concerts are an avenue for expressing gratitude to their fans. The new Career Scenario allows you to witness the passion each Umamusume pours into concerts, watch over their growth, and aim to make the Grand Concert the best event it can be. It's a story about dreams, teamwork, and the joy of performing.

Reflections on the First Year of the English Version

When the English version launched, Cygames had no idea how a game based on real-life Japanese horse racing would be received overseas. However, the response has been overwhelming. Players have praised both the dramatic writing and the strategic mechanics. The community stays lively with discussions and fan art on social media. The team was honored to meet passionate trainers in person at events like Anime Expo in Los Angeles. Everyone's love for the game has reached them, and they are grateful.

A Message to Trainers

Cygames thanks trainers around the world for their continued support. Their love for the game inspires the team to keep bringing the best experience possible. The first-ever Umamusume world tour is underway, with stops in Tokyo, Los Angeles, London, Seoul, and Yokohama. The team hopes that trainers everywhere will continue to enjoy the world of Umamusume through games, anime, music, and more. There's a lot more in store for the future, so look forward to it.