It's easy to forget that the announcement of Super Mario Run wasn't the only Nintendo-related bombshell that was dropped during Apple's iPhone 7 keynote earlier this year. Pokémon GO developer Niantic also showed off an Apple Watch app which works in conjunction with the game to save you the bother of having to pull your phone out of your pocket all the time; based on the demo alone, it seemed like a Pokémon GO Plus, only much better.
Niantic has been fairly quiet about the app since then, and Apple fan site 9to5Mac reported recently on rumours that development has been put on hold. The source was a Reddit poster who claimed to be an Niantic employee; according to this individual, work had stopped but "if demand for an Apple Watch port increases, we will continue development of a port." 9to5Mac approached Niantic for a comment on this matter but didn't get a reply.
However, Niantic did take to Twitter to assure fans that the Apple Watch companion app was still on its way, although whether or not it makes it before the end of the year - as promised - remains to be seen:
The Pokémon GO Plus - which was released earlier this year - has been an amazing success, suggesting that there's big demand for an Apple Watch version. Are you keen to have this on your wrist? Let us know with a comment.
Comments 6
"like a Pokémon GO Plus, only much better"
Polar opposite, more like... PGO+ lets you do things, but doesn't really give you any details, while the smartwatch app apparently gives you details, but doesn't really let you do anything.
You'd need both to properly play the game without taking your phone out.
Waiting patiently for an Android Wear announcement...
it's part of the reason I have gotten back into Pokemon Go.
Good to hear. I am looking forward to the release for the Watch.
Meanwhile, the Pebble is dead...
I got an Apple Series 2 watch for the Nike + Running App and Pokemon Go (I already have a Go Plus). At this stage, I barely use my Plus and it doesn't matter to me if Niantic releases the watch app at all. All of those months of waiting for a proper tracker and seeing Niantic take down fun sites and elements has had its toll. Plus, I've had much more fun getting a 100% Alolan Pokedex in Sun. I still smile when I look back at how much fun Go was at the start. I'm more excited for what Game Freak announces next.
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