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Pokémon Go Plus Won’t Arrive Until September Now
Nintendo has announced that the Pokémon Go Plus, a wearable device that pairs with the wildly popular iOS and Android game, has been delayed. Originally due this month, the accessory will now arrive in September.
Pokémon Go Plus is designed to facilitate gameplay by flashing and vibrating when a Pokémon or Pokéstop is near. While it won’t completely automate the game, it will facilitate catching all of those Pidgeys and Rattatas you want to turn into candy.
There’s no explanation yet as to why the device has been delayed. It could be a manufacturing issue, but could also be due to the game’s technically troubled start.
The popularity of the game has caused massive server issues exacerbated as every new country comes online. We’ve reached out to Niantic and Nintendo for comment. We’ll update should we receive a response.
Update: Nintendo says that the Pokémon Go Plus delay is related to the state of the game software. “The delay is due to the preparations for the Pokémon GO application update in order to optimize Pokémon GO Plus," a Nintendo representative told us via email. "In order for us to offer new experiences to play Pokémon GO with Pokémon GO Plus with a quality level high enough to satisfy as many people as possible, we decided that it is necessary to take enough time for the completion. We ask for your understanding.”
[Source: Nintendo of America on Twitter]
Our Take
While the app was developed by Niantic, Nintendo is handling manufacture of the Pokémon Go Plus. The problem here is that after the summer break ends here, the app may very well cool off.
Nintendo is missing the crucial launch window, and the worst part is that it might not even be its fault. Releasing the device before the app is ready to support it and the servers are leveled out wouldn’t be much better.
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