‘Pokémon Go’ Apple Watch Update Available Now, But You’ll Still Need To Have iPhone Active To Catch Anything

The Pokémon Go app is finally available on the Apple Watch! After being announced back in September, Niantic has finally got the app to work on the smartwatch just in time for the holidays.

According to the official Pokémon Go website, trainers can now sync the app with their smartwatch and log play sessions through the Apple Watch app as Workouts that count toward personal Activity rings, while also counting distance toward hatching Pokémon Eggs. This seems to suggest being stationary will count toward hatching Pokémon Eggs, as long as you are doing strenuous work.

Pokémon Go players using the Apple Watch will have to update via the App Store before the Watch app becomes available.

Here are the functions the Apple Watch will be able to in Pokémon Go:

• 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

The second point, stating that the Apple Watch will “notify” users about nearby Pokémon, means players will still have to open the app on their iPhones to catch them the ol’ fashioned way, which is different from how the Pokémon Go Plus accessory works.

Apple Watch users won’t have to worry about purchasing/replacing the accessory’s battery at least.

Are you an Apple Watch owner and downloaded the Pokémon Go update yet? Let us know how it works in the comments section below.