Apple has the perfect killer app for its new Apple Watch Series 2, and that happens to be Pokemon Go. This is a standalone app that allows players to play Pokemon Go from their watches; although it doesn’t allow people to actually catch Pokemon.
Pokemon Go for the Apple Watch seems to be largely about allowing players to go about their day without being stuck to their iPhones. The app will track distance for hatch eggs, while it appears this feature has been expanded to track calories burned as well. It’s unknown if this means that the Apple Watch version will be more accurate for tracking distance; since Pokemon Go is notoriously bad at doing this.
Aside from that, the app will alert players to nearby Pokemon and Pokestops. Pokestops can be accessed from the Apple Watch, although catching Pokemon will require players to actually pull their iPhones out of their pockets.
Interestingly, Pokemon Go on the Apple Watch seems to function like a fitness app; with players having to start a workout and the app providing a summary of the activity once they’re done.
There’s no word if there will be a similar version for Android Wear, but we expect something similar is in the works. There is no indication of when the app is being made available either.
Niantic also sprung another surprise during the Apple event, announcing that the Pokemon Go Plus wearable will be sold later this month. Not much else is known about the launch of the wearable, and it really may not be all that relevant with the game heading to the Apple Watch.
