We’ve mused almost endlessly about the positives of Pokémon Go: The game has brought people together en masse, it’s fostered love, it’s spruced up at least one zoo, and so much more. There’s one obvious downside, however: It gets people out of the house and walking around, yes, but these hordes of players are walking around the globe with their faces buried in their phones.
An accessory called Pokémon Go Plus has promised to take care of this, and now it’s release is finally confirmed… and coming right up.
The device, which looks like a Google Maps pin with a Pokéball skin, can be either clipped onto your clothing or worn around the wrist as a watch-like tool, connects to your phone via bluetooth and lets users know about in-game events, like the spawning of a wild Pokémon and nearby Pokéstops, with vibration and an LED light.
In July, the device was delayed until September, and hey, it’s September now, so Niantic has announced that Pokémon Go Plus will be “available in much of the world” on September 16, while South American territories will have to wait a bit longer. The device will retail for $34.99 and is compatible with the iOS and Android versions of Pokémon Go.
Is Pokémon Go Plus something you can see yourself getting, or does $35 seem like too much to spend on an accessory for a smartphone game? There’s certainly a market for it, as it was reported today that Pokémon Go has been downloaded over 500 million times.
Featured image: The Pokémon Company
