(UPDATE: The Wall Street Journal says the Pokémon Company is asking players in the US and Japan to “please wait for a while” for the official launch of the game. We’ll keep you posted when we hear a firm launch timeframe.)
Nintendo, The Pokémon Company and Niantic’s Pokémon GO is now available in a number of App Stores around the world. The augmented reality game is propagating through the App Stores, so if it isn’t available in yours yet, it should be there shortly.
Pokémon GO uses the iPhone’s camera and GPS hardware to create an augmented reality for “trainers” to travel through in their search for Pokémon to capture. Users can collect, level up, trade, and use Pokémon in battle. Users can assign them to defend Gyms from other players. Gyms can be found while out and about in the real world.
While out in the real world, the app will send the player a notification is a Pokémon is nearby. Certain Pokémon and other items are only available in select locations. Various locations where specialized creatures can be found are near bodies of water, museums, and other points of interest.
Available later this month will be an optional $35 wearable device called Go Plus, which keeps users in the game, even if they don’t have access to their phone. The device connects via Bluetooth, and alerts the player via vibrations and LED alerts when a certain game event occurs, such as when a Pokémon has been sighted nearby.
Pokémon Go is already available in some App Stores, and should soon be available in all of them soon, as the game is slowly propagating to the various stores. The Go Plus device is expected to be available later this month.
