Key takeaways
- Cygames canceled Umamusume: Pretty Derby's Los Angeles concert due to visa delays for performers, citing complications with current U.S. immigration procedures.
- The developer committed to reimbursing tickets, flight cancellations, and hotel costs—a response that extends beyond standard industry practice for canceled events.
- Fans divided their responses between sympathizing with Cygames, blaming U.S. immigration policies, and criticizing the developer for inadequate visa planning.
The North American leg of Umamusume: Pretty Derby’s inaugural world concert tour fell victim to visa complications this week when Cygames announced it could not secure entry clearance for performers traveling to Los Angeles. The sudden cancellation, announced days before the scheduled events, forced fans to reconsider travel arrangements they had made to attend a live celebration of the game’s first year of international success.
About Umamusume: Pretty Derby
Umamusume: Pretty Derby stands out in mobile gaming for its distinctive premise: rather than racing actual horses, players manage and train anime girls who compete in racing events. Released in 2025, the game rapidly developed a dedicated international following. The franchise achieved widespread recognition by winning mobile Game of the Year at The Game Awards in 2025, a significant achievement reflecting both strong sales performance and critical appreciation for its execution.
The Concert Tour’s Purpose
Live concerts tied to gaming franchises have grown increasingly common in the industry, particularly for titles with strong character-driven narratives or musical components. For Umamusume: Pretty Derby, which places considerable emphasis on storytelling and character backgrounds, a concert tour offered fans a direct way to engage with the franchise’s music and celebrate over 12 months of engagement since launch. The Los Angeles dates were positioned as part of a broader international tour planned to visit multiple territories.
Immigration Obstacles and Visa Complications
The Visa Delay
Cygames attributed the cancellation to visa delays that made it impossible to clear performers for entry into the United States. The developer did not specify which visa categories the performers required, how many were affected, or precisely when the visa process began, but indicated the complications arose from current U.S. immigration policies and procedures. With concert dates imminent, the developer determined that cancellation served fans better than attempting to reschedule on short notice.
Policy Context
The cancellation occurred amid heightened public discussion about U.S. visa processing under the Trump administration, which has implemented stricter immigration enforcement policies. Whether the delays stemmed from these new policies or from procedural standards already in place remained a point of interpretation for observers.
Divided Fan Reactions
The fanbase’s response split along several lines. Some fans expressed sympathy for Cygames’ efforts. One supporter posted on X: “Thank you so very much for trying, it’s heart-breaking but we know you tried until the very end.”
Others directed frustration at the political climate itself. “This is not the America I wanted to live in,” another fan wrote, referencing immigration restrictions more broadly.
A third faction assigned primary responsibility to Cygames for inadequate planning. “Cygames waited until the last minute to obtain visas for the talents and didn’t pay to expedite them,” one fan wrote, arguing that standard event planning protocol requires settling visa paperwork well before an event date. This criticism suggested Cygames had failed to account for visa processing timelines adequately or chosen not to prioritize expedited processing options that might have circumvented delays.
Cygames’ Refund Policy
Recognizing the financial burden on fans who had purchased tickets and arranged travel, Cygames announced a comprehensive reimbursement program on October 21. The developer committed to refunding ticket prices for all concert attendees, a standard practice for canceled events.
What Gets Reimbursed
Beyond typical ticket refunds, Cygames expanded its commitment to cover travel-related expenses:
- For fans who canceled flights or hotel reservations specifically because of the concert’s cancellation, the company will reimburse cancellation fees incurred
- For fans who had already traveled to Los Angeles and arrived before the cancellation was announced, Cygames will reimburse actual travel expenses and lodging costs for the scheduled concert period, subject to documentation requirements and specified reimbursement criteria
This policy represents an approach that extends beyond standard industry practice, where live event cancellations typically result only in direct ticket refunds. By absorbing secondary travel costs, Cygames signaled a priority on maintaining goodwill with its North American fanbase over minimizing company exposure.
London Dates and Future Touring
The world concert tour is scheduled to continue in London, though Cygames has not finalized specific dates for that portion of the tour. The company provided no updated timeline or information about whether London dates might face similar complications. The lack of clarity leaves international fans and U.K.-based attendees uncertain about when or whether the concert will resume.
The cancellation has kept Umamusume: Pretty Derby in public conversation, though the tone remains one of disappointment rather than anticipation. Whether live concerts will remain part of the franchise’s international strategy, or whether this incident causes Cygames to restrict future touring to territories with less complex visa requirements, remains undetermined.
Source: Kotaku
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Umamusume: Pretty Derby Los Angeles concert canceled?
Cygames could not secure the necessary visas for performers to enter the United States. The developer attributed the issue to complications with current U.S. immigration policies and procedures, making it impossible to proceed with the concert dates.
What expenses will Cygames reimburse?
Cygames will reimburse concert ticket prices for all attendees. For fans who canceled travel arrangements, the company will cover cancellation fees. For those who already traveled to Los Angeles, Cygames will reimburse actual travel and lodging expenses for the concert period, subject to documentation and specified criteria.
When will the concert tour resume in London?
The next scheduled stop is London, but Cygames has not finalized specific dates for that portion of the tour. The company provided no updated timeline, leaving the status of future concerts unclear.
