The long wait is over. The much-delayed Pokémon GO Plus is set become available next month. Pre-orders for the specially designed wearable are now live (again). Now, here's the latest round-up of update about Pokémon Go Plus release date, price and features.
Nintendo initially announced the wearable will become available before the month of July ends. However, the company decided to postpone its launching. CNET reports the mobile game accessory will be released to the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan on September 16. For its launch on Europe, Nintendo has not yet revealed any details. According to the company's website, the wearable will be made available in "most countries" this month.
Pokémon GO Plus costs $34.99. It adds an extra dimension to the mobile by notifying trainers when there's a Pokémon or PokéStop nearby. It vibrates and flashes to give alerts.
In a post from Niantic, it says players can collect new items from PokéStops by just clicking the Pokemon Go Plus. Also, with push of a button, trainers can launch a virtual Pokéball to catch digital monster.
One of the greatest benefits of having Pokémon Go Plus is trainers can search and catch monsters without draining their smartphone's battery life. The wearable connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth, which is a low energy connection.
Hunting Pokemon is much safer with Pokémon Go Plus. Players can focus on the road instead of looking on their smartphones all the time.
Interestingly, the upcoming launching of Pokémon Go wearable might encourage other trainers to become more active in the game. Bloomberg previously reported that Pokémon Go users have been dwindling in the past few months. At its peak, the mobile game had around 45 million. That figure is now around 30 million mark.
The augmented reality game is now accessible in 69 countries. With the upcoming Buddy Pokemon feature, we expect thousands of users will come back to play the mobile game again.
Meanwhile, during Apple's iPhone 7 launch event in San Francisco, Niantic CEO John Hanke took the stage to reveal the Pokemon Go will be made available to the Apple Watch and Watch 2 before the end of the year. Hanke also demoed how players can track their distance to hatch eggs and visit PokéStops while using the Apple Watch.
Stay tuned to Gospel Herald for more Pokémon Go news.