On Tuesday, Niantic rolled out Pokemon GO 1.7.0 update for iOS and its respective Android counterpart. The new update adds an all-new buddy system and support for the upcoming Pokemon GO Plus wearable.
Pokemon GO's buddy system helps players acquire more candy for specific Pokemon types within the game. Similar to the Pokemon TV show, a player can choose to have a Pocket Monster follow him or her around while playing the game. When walking certain distances, the player will acquire more candy for that specific Pokemon type.
The update also adds support for the upcoming Pokemon GO Plus wearable, set to begin shipping September 16. The wearable will alert players when a Pokemon in nearby and assist to capture it. Apple Watch owner might want to hold off on purchasing the $34.99 wearable, as Niantic announced Pokemon GO was coming to Apple's smartwatch as well.
Other than that, Niantic noted down some bug fixes and changes in Pokemon GO 1.7.0:
- Improvements to performance and reliability when your device switches networks
- Fixes a problem where the egg animation wouldn’t appear when an egg hatched
- It’s now easier to tap on smaller Pokémon on the map with improvements to tap boxes
- Minor improvements to text throughout the app
