Gacha Game Fans Are Literally Feeding a Retired Racehorse: Here's Why It's Adorable
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Turns out that players of *Uma Musume: Pretty Derby* are so enthusiastic that they're sending actual grass to a retired racehorse who inspires one of the characters, causing a delightful spike in ryegrass demand and proving that gacha games can lead to heartwarming, real-world connections. And if that doesn't give you the warm fuzzies, I don't know what will.
Right, so you've got your super-popular gacha game, *Uma Musume: Pretty Derby*, yeah? (If you haven't heard of it, it's basically a game where you train horse girls – stay with me!) Well, it's gotten *so* popular that players are now sending actual, physical grass to a real-life retired racehorse that inspired one of the characters: Haru Urara.
I know, I know, it sounds bonkers, but hear me out. *Uma Musume* is massive. We're talking over 50,000 concurrent players on Steam *alone* over the weekend. And Haru Urara, bless her cotton socks, is a bit of an underdog. In the game, she's all about winning hearts, not races – which mirrors her real-life career. She never actually won a race! Bit of a sad backstory, really, but that's why the fans love her, right?
So, these newfound fans, fueled by the game's cuteness and Haru Urara's plucky spirit, decided to shower her with gifts. And what do horses love? Grass, obviously. Specifically, ryegrass from the Live Grass Bank, a Japanese website dedicated to gifting, well, grass. The demand has been so high that the website has been having a right proper meltdown trying to keep up. Fair dinkum, I reckon that's dedication!
The folks at Live Grass Bank have confirmed they're receiving all the orders and will be sending them out over time. And the messages of support being sent alongside the grass are just... *chef's kiss*. We're talking heartwarming stuff like "Enjoy the grass from a loving sailor!" and "Never give up!" Seriously, who's cutting onions? (Definitely not me, mate, I'm allergic to onions... yeah, that's it.)
There are even videos circulating on X (formerly Twitter, because of course) showing Haru Urara chowing down on her newfound bounty. And the fan art? Forget about it! It's a glorious, grassy, horsey love-in. It's a feel-good story that reminds you why you got into games in the first place.
It's a bit like when you accidentally summon a demon but it turns out to be really good at making tea. You didn't expect it, but you're definitely not complaining. Haru Urara might not have won any races, but she's definitely winning at life right now. Good on her, I say!
Tags: Uma Musume, Gacha Game, Haru Urara, Gaming News, Feel-Good Story
Original article: Eurogamer