KFC App Downloads Explode in Japan Due to Genshin Impact, Umamusume

More people in Japan have been downloading the KFC app this year than in the previous three years, likely as a result of the Genshin Impact and Umamusume: Pretty Derby collaborations. During the collaborations, KFC reached the top of the rankings in Japan for food-related apps. [Thanks, Famitsu!]

Sensor Tower published this research. Between August and October 2024, KFC in Japan had collaboration campaigns with Umamusume: Pretty Derby and Genshin Impact. More downloads occur during these times. In particular, October 2, 2024 (the day that the Genshin Impact collaboration started) saw the highest number of people downloading the KFC app in these past three years.

This is due to both games’ popularity, as well as the collaboration items being limited to online orders. In Japan, KFC is a Christmas tradition and so the holiday season is usually when a lot of people download the app to order some fried chicken for themselves or their family. But, thanks to the 20,000 new users from the Umamusume campaign and the 40,000 from Genshin Impact, the app’s download numbers have already surpassed 2023’s Christmas.

Umamusume: Pretty Derby is readily available on the Windows PC and mobile devices. Genshin Impact is on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Windows PC, and mobile devices.