'Pokémon Go' just took its augmented reality effects to the next level
Niantic just gave Pokémon Go a very important update.
The game's augmented reality effects just got a huge upgrade, thanks to Apple's ARKit technology. The update, which is rolling out on iOS this week, promises to make catching Pokémon much more immersive and, potentially, challenging.
Coming months after Apple first made its ARKit tech available to developers, the long anticipated update means that the game can now take much better advantage of the iPhone's cameras, making the AR effects that much more realistic.
The update, which is available with iOS 11 on the iPhone 6S and newer and the iPad Pro, adds a new "AR+" mode with the enhanced effects. Once enabled, the Pokémon characters will change size as you move closer or farther away from them.
They'll also react differently as you move nearer them, so capturing more difficult Pokémon may get even more challenging as you get closer to them. (The game is also adding a new "Expert Handler" bonus, which lets you earn more XP and Stardust when you capture a Pokémon from a closer distance.)
Here's what the new effects look like in action:
Of course, as many experienced Pokémon Go players know, enabling the game's AR effects also means the game will drain your battery that much quicker.
But even if you've taken to disabling the app's augmented reality features as a battery-saving precaution, the new AR+ mode (and potential for extra bonuses) might just be enough to make you give it another shot.
Karissa was Mashable's Senior Tech Reporter, and is based in San Francisco. She covers social media platforms, Silicon Valley, and the many ways technology is changing our lives. Her work has also appeared in Wired, Macworld, Popular Mechanics, and The Wirecutter. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding and watching too many cat videos on Instagram. Follow her on Twitter @karissabe.
