Niantic Labs announced that Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are finally ready to release the Pokémon GO Plus accessory to most of the world next week, on Sept. 16.
The accessory was supposed to launch in July, alongside the release of massively popular augmented reality mobile game Pokémon GO. However, Nintendo said that the Pokémon GO Plus would be delayed until September, citing the focus on the app update for Pokémon GO as the reason and not production issues as initially thought.
In a blog post on the official Pokémon GO website, Niantic Labs revealed the Sept. 16 launch date of the Pokémon GO Plus, in line with Nintendo's planned release window. The accessory will be made available in most countries on that date, though some territories in South America will have to wait until later in the year for unmentioned reasons.
For players who need a refresher on what the Pokémon GO Plus is and what it offers, Niantic Labs explains that the device will function as an accessory for Pokémon GO that will connect to the user's smartphone through a Bluetooth Smart connection, which is a low-energy kind of Bluetooth designed for fitness apps. With the accessory, aspiring Pokémon masters will be able to continue playing the game even while their smartphone remains in their pockets.
Whenever a player passes by a PokéStop, the Pokémon GO Plus will light up and vibrate, and by pressing on the accessory's button, the user can collect items from the PokéStop. In addition, when the player passes by a Pokémon that can be caught, the same lights and vibrations will alert him or her, with the Pokémon able to be caught with the press of the button. Players can then check the Pokémon that they caught through the app's Journal.
The Pokémon GO Plus, which can be worn by players as either a pin or as a wristband, will retain its $34.99 price tag upon its release next week.
In other recent Pokémon GO news, the latest update for the app is just around the corner, with Buddy Pokémon set to arrive to the game as its newest feature.
Gamers will be able to select their favorite Pokémon, which will then appear alongside the player's trainer avatar on the app. As the player walks alongside the Pokémon, he or she will be awarded with candy that can be used to upgrade the Pokémon's combat power or evolve it to its next form.
