The first announcement was made last September, and after three months, Niantic announced that "Pokémon Go" is now available for the Apple Watch.
The sensational "Pokémon Go" has been losing steam lately, but Niantic is not giving up on the Augmented Reality game by giving players a novel way in playing the game by using your Apple Watch. However, be informed that it does not mean you will be able to play the full game on your Apple Watch.
Another thing to take note of is that you cannot actually catch Pokémon with your Apple Watch. According to Niantic, "Pokémon Go" for the Apple Watch will allow the player to collect items from PokéStops and see monsters nearby by a mere tap of the watch, The Verge reported.
The new Apple Watch app will allow "Pokémon Go" players to do the following, according to c|net:
- Log each play session as a workout, with gameplay counting toward personal activity rings
- Notification when there are Pokémon nearby.
- Provide distance toward hatching Pokémon eggs as well as receive candy from buddy Pokémon.
- Notifications about nearby PokéStops as well as collect items from them
- Notification when eggs hatch as well as receive notifications when medals are awarded.
As stated earlier, you will not be able to catch Pokémon with the Apple Watch, but the beauty is, you can now see which "Pokémon Go" monster you have run into without you pulling out your phone. If you encounter a Pokémon you do not want to capture, you simply just keep on walking.
Earlier, the $35 "Pokémon Go" bracelet was released that can do the exact same thing $369 Apple Watch can do. The only difference aside from the obvious price difference is that the Nintendo device will allow players to catch Pokémon without fishing out your phone. However, of course, other integrated features for the Apple Watch in playing "Pokémon Go" are not available for the "Pokémon Go" bracelet.
For those who already own the Apple Watch, it is a choice if you still want to forgo the Nintendo accessory. The advantage it gives is faster notification and catching Pokémon on the "Pokémon Go" bracelet itself.
