With Pokémon GO Plus add-on expected soon and the app still performing well, Niantic CEO John Hanke appeared at the Apple Conference today to unveil a version of the game for Apple Watch.
This version is an accompaniment rather than being an iteration of the full game, with its focus very much on fitness. Though you can check for nearby 'mon and get notifications, you still need to jump into the full game (in this case on iOS) to actually catch it. The focus is more on registering your steps and calculating calories burned; it does register PokéStops you visit for your account, and you can also monitor and follow the hatching of eggs through the Watch app.
It's due before the end of the year. Are you an Apple Watch owner that may be tempted to try this out?
Comments 46
Never cared for Apple watch. A barebones pokemon go app is silly but to each their own I suppose
I hope that they make one for android wears too, like Samsung gear S2 for example (not the best example but I think they would work well together since they often compare it to the apple watch.)
Ah, finally, an app for both people that own an Apple Watch...
And yet they still ignore the stuff that's wrong with the app...
How many people even own an Apple Watch? Furthermore, how can they focus on something like this when there are still so many problems with the main app?
Where's Pokemon Go Plus?
Really? Apple Watch is ridiculously priced, and I don't know anyone who even owns one. Is it really worth the resources to make this? When the existing app could be improved a lot?
Say it with me:
Just 👏 because 👏 a 👏 new 👏 product👏 is 👏 announced 👏 doesn't 👏 mean 👏 they 👏 gave 👏 up 👏 on 👏 fixing 👏 any 👏 bugs 👏!!!
@Aoi14
I do wonder if it's coming to Android Wear as well, as Google-owned Niantic's previous game Ingress worked with it.
The Pokemon GO craze seems to be dying down a lot. That combined with the fact that hardly anyone has an Apple Watch means this was most likely a wasted effort. But I guess they probably have plenty of money to spare on projects like this.
Only thing I want Niantic to do is change kilometers to miles for us North American gamers.
Now this is silly. Nobody has an I watch
Welp I guess I'll be playing pokemon go. Love my Watch.
@GloverMist The dozens!!
... Am I the only person so far that not only has a Watch but knows several people with one?
@Nin10doh But certainly not entering triple figures!
I don't really see the point in this. If you can't achieve most of the game's functions, why release it? I know it's health-oriented, to an extent, but surely the many many health apps that Apple touted for the Watch can do the same thing?
What's this?
Niantic are wasting even more of their time working on unnecessary features rather than working on the stuff that is in urgent need of attention?!?!
Morons.
But do you need the app open? Because if so, it's pointless and you then have two battery draining products you're carrying...
(Checks amazon and gamestop) well preorders are still unavailable for Pokemon Go Plus. Was hoping they would reopen or people would cancel their preorder after the news. The madness continues I guess.
Still awesome for those who already own one, because just like the apple watch itself, why not.
Zzzzzzz gasp Oh another Apple announcement?
They still make Apple Watches??
I thought the whole concept flopped cause they cost more than your life.
Suddenly those Pokemon Go Plus delays make some sense.....
Pokai Watch.
Wow the people here are salty.
Putting a Pokemon app on the Apple Watch is not the end of the world, guys. It's not the end of Nintendo.
Jeez, get over it.
@Ryu_Niiyama maybe. I manage a bar in one of the biggest party city's in the us (New Orleans) and I have never seen one in person.
@bezerker99 Hey! Don't drag the rest of North America into this. Canadian here, and we stopped using miles years ago, like the rest of the world.
I can at least vouch for New York City having a lot of Apple Watch adopters. I see so many folks here tapping them at registers.
But where isy android wear version? It's not like Google freaking owns Niantic or anything.
Still dumb.
@-Mandra- they said at the conference that it's due next month
@MoonKnight7 they just unveiled the series 2 Watch.
@ottospooky Ahah. Ok. Sorry, it seems I missed that bit of info. Thanks for the knowledge.
@faint lol huh. That is strange. I almost feel like I should post mine to prove I'm not lying. But yeah I know three friends and seven coworkers with one.
I've got one. I like it. I have no sense of direction so the turn by turn navigation has helped
Most of the folks I know who own a smartwatch own either a Pebble or Android. Kind of curious to see if (and when) Niantic will port the app to either platform.
@asaprowen how is it possible that you clapped off beat with emoji's? lmao
I worked at Target in electronics for almost a year and we probably sold like...5 apple watches total in that time.
@Gobelee I didn't even know Canada had roads! Nice
@Ryu_Niiyama @PrincePeach92
Haha, I was being sarcastic.
exciting stuff! I would probably buy one just for pokemon go instead pokemon go plus.
Well, that's going to be handy for the five AppleWatch owners that play Pokémon Go.
Hell no to the Apple Watch or to any smart watch. I find them so ugly.... I'll stick to my trusty normal watch.
The return of the Pokétch confirmed?
...
...
...please?
There we go... A lot of people here wear Apple Watches AND play Pokemon GO, so that's good for them. I'll just keep on not trying to hit 10-year-olds who walk on the middle of the street with my car
I know a few people that own this watch, but I just don't see myself getting it anytime soon. To each their own.
@bezerker99 Road. Not plural. Haha. We have a road.
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