Pokemon GO has been in the field-testing phase for some time now, and it seems like things are really shaping up. The team must believe the game is nearing completion, because they were willing to demo several components of it live on Nintendo’s Treehouse: Live at E3 stream earlier today. Throughout the stream we were able to learn more about the game as well as its companion device: Pokemon GO Plus. The “Plus” in Pokemon GO Plus is a small bluetooth device that connects to your iOS or Android smartphone, and works with the game itself to let users focus more on the world around them.
This is a big priority for the folks at Niantic, who want everyone who plays Pokemon GO to go out and be more engaged with the real world and with other people. So instead of walking around with your face buried in your smartphone, Pokemon GO Plus allows you to enjoy your walk without missing any nearby Pokemon. When a Pokemon is around you, the device will light up and vibrate. If you’d like, you can take a chance and throw a Pokeball with the touch of a button; depending on what color illuminates the center of the device, you’ll know whether or not you captured your target.
Pokemon GO Plus will be available sometime in July for $35. It’s safe to assume that we can expect Pokemon GO to go live around the same time. When it does, The Pokemon Company pointed out that users will encounter various Kanto Pokemon (from the original Red & Blue games), and that Pokemon from later generations will be added later on. Also keep in mind that the Pokemon you encounter will vary depending on your region. If you live next to water, for example, you’re much more likely to encounter a Lapras than someone who lives in the desert. While nothing has been ironed out for sure, expect to hear about some exciting plans in the future to connect and celebrate Pokemon GO and the mainline Pokemon games together.