‘Pokémon Go’ update encourages healthier gamers

Image: Niantic/Pokemon Go

The latest update for “Pokémon Go” will further encourage its players to get out and get fit because the game will now link to step-tracking apps on a smartphone.

The new feature, dubbed Adventure Sync, will tie in with Google Fit for Android or Apple Health for iOS to track player movements. This will be a plus for gamers because it means they no longer need to keep the game running on screen to hatch Pokémon eggs or get achievements, according to a Niantic developer blog.

Adventure Sync will also manage push notifications to tell players if an egg has hatched or they’ve earned more Buddy Candies from all the daily walking “Pokémon Go” trainers do.

The update just rolled out on Nov. 2, and only players level 35 and above can activate the feature. Once the roll-out is complete, all players above level 5 will be able to switch it on.

“Pokémon Go” is an augmented reality game built from the collaboration between Nintendo’s The Pokémon Company and game developer Niantic. It was released on July 6, 2016, and quickly became one of the most downloaded game apps at the time.

While some critics praised its concept, others pointed out the technical problems the game encountered at launch. The hype for the game has mostly leveled out, but dedicated fans continue to play the game and enjoy its updates.  /ra

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