Fans were deeply hurt by the incident.
Recently, animal-rights advocates from PETA turned their attention to Umamusume: Pretty Derby. The game features horse-girls who are modeled after real racehorses.
Activists pointed to the tragic fate of one such horse:
If Umamusume: Pretty Derby were to be fully candid — the real horse Silence Suzuka suffered a catastrophic injury during a race and was subsequently euthanized.
The Umamusume: Pretty Derby community regarded the post as insulting. Many fans not only race the virtual anime characters but also contribute to the care and welfare of real horses:
On reflection, I’m sure fans of this franchise have done more for horses’ lives and wellbeing than PETA. The standard is admittedly low, but still.
Fans of Umamusume: Pretty Derby are now lodging complaints about PETA with the game’s developer, Cygames. Such an image could breach the company’s rules on depicting its characters and might ultimately lead to legal proceedings between the studio and the activists.
Source: iXBT.games