The pressure from the fans has had an effect. After just a few days of uncertainty and scathing criticism, Cygames, the Japanese giant behind Umamusume: Pretty Derby, has broken the silence. This January 14, 2026, the company issued a sorry public and a series of forceful clarifications to calm the discontent of its community, which feared that the artisanal art of its “horse girls” would be replaced by generative algorithms.
The official rectification of Cygames
In a much more detailed statement than the initial announcement on January 9. The authority of the company focused on acknowledging its communication errors and giving specific guarantees to its followers. Cygames admitted that its first announcement was “simplified.” In addition, it failed to address the social debates and ethical issues surrounding generative AI.
The company was emphatic in declaring that all the current art of its games is the result of «technical know-how and manual work» of his staff. They committed to not implement generative AI in their products without prior notice to the community.
The value of the artist versus the machine
The experience of the players and artists who give life to Umamusume was the central axis of the apology. Cygames recognized that the passion of creators is what sustains gaming culture.
“We hold in the highest esteem those who love games, as well as the dignity, passion and heart of the creators and artists who act as architects of gamer culture.” — Official statement from Cygames.
Recovering the faith of fans
To restore the reliabilityCygames has had to be extremely direct. By stating that “art produced by generative AI is not used in our products,” the company attempts to shield the reputation of Umamusume as a work of high quality craftsmanship. This response seeks to stop the “damage to player trust” that other companies in the sector have already suffered when accused of using low-quality machine-generated content.
A lesson in corporate humility
Cygames' apology is an absolute victory for fans of Umamusume. It demonstrates that, even in 2026, the voice of an organized and passionate community can force a multi-billion dollar corporation to rethink its technological strategy in favor of ethics and respect for human art.
Cygames has handled this crisis masterfully… after a dangerous initial setback. By saying “we will not use AI without warning,” they have left a door open for the future. But at least they have drawn a clear red line over the present. For a franchise like Umamusumewhere every detail of the design is sacred to fans, this clarification was vital. The fact that they have apologized for causing “anger and disappointment” shows that they understand that their greatest asset is not the software, but the loyalty of their people.
Do you think this apology is enough to fully trust Cygames, or do you think the AI studio will continue working “in the shadows” for other purposes? We want to read your opinion in the comments!
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