You can finally play 'Pokémon Go' on an Apple Watch
Pokémon Go fans get one more surprise as the holidays descend: Apple Watch support.
The Pokémon Go app for Apple Watch is a stripped down companion to the smartphone game. You can't actually use it to catch Pokémon, but it plugs in to virtually every other facet of the game.
Notifications let players know about nearby Pokémon and PokéStops, as well as eggs that are ready to hatch. You can also collect PokéStop items from the app and check your progress toward hatching eggs or collecting candy from your Buddy Pokémon.
Since Apple Watch is a fitness-friendly wearable, you can also log Pokémon Go gameplay sessions toward your daily Activity Ring progress. Just like the smartphone version, the Apple Watch app is a free download.
It's been a busy few months for Pokémon Go fans. There were special in-game events that kicked off around Halloween and Thanksgiving, the long-hoped-for arrival of Ditto, the game's official launch in India and a whole new set of Pokémon to capture.
All that activity -- including the new Apple Watch availability -- is a positive sign for Pokémon Go's 2017 prospects. Especially following the months-long lull after the game's instantaneous post-launch success seemingly ground developer Niantic's continued work to a halt.
The Pokémon Go app for Apple Watch should be available in the App Store now.
Topics Apple Watch Gaming Pokemon
Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
