Pokémon GO is finally ready for Apple Watch. The iOS game, one of 2016’s biggest breakout hits, got an update today that includes the long-awaited Apple Watch app.
According to the game’s maker, Pokémon GO is a perfect match for Apple’s wearable.
“Apple Watch is particularly well suited to Pokémon GO as it seamlessly combines gameplay and imagination with getting exercise and exploring the real world,” wrote Niantic in a blog post announcing the app update.
“You can easily interact with Pokémon GO on Apple Watch, using quick taps to discover nearby Pokémon and collect items from PokéStops. Once you encounter a Pokémon, you can catch it from your iPhone. You can log your play sessions through the Apple Watch app as a Workout that will count toward your personal Activity rings, while also counting distance toward hatching Pokémon Eggs.”
Released in July, Pokémon GO’s savvy combination of a popular media franchise with a fitness-oriented game that splashed over into the physical world became a cultural phenomenon. The augmented-reality game quickly racked up more than 100 million downloads, drawing players into public spaces to find, capture, battle and train virtual beasts. The free gamed earned Niantic more than $10 million a day at one point, thanks to legions of players making in-game purchases.
Pokémon GO for Apple Watch
Right from the beginning, Pokémon GO seemed like a great fit for Apple Watch. Apple even showed off the Apple Watch app during the iPhone 7 event last September. (Android Wear is still waiting for a Pokémon GO app.)
Now that it’s finally ready for Apple fans’ wrists, here’s what you’ll find in the Pokémon GO Apple Watch app, according to Niantic:
- Log each play session as a workout, with gameplay counting toward personal Activity rings.
- Receive notifications about nearby Pokémon.
- Count distance toward hatching Pokémon Eggs and receiving Candy with your Buddy Pokémon.
- Receive notifications about PokéStops nearby and collect items from them.
- Receive notifications when Eggs hatch and medals are awarded.
If you don’t already have the app, you can download Pokémon GO from the App Store.
Get Pokémon GO tips
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a Pokémon GO beginner, you can boost your game with a pair of Cult of Mac how-tos:
