Attention Pokemon trainers! Soon you will be able to go for a walk with a buddy Pokemon and conquer the real world.
The makers of Pokemon announced a new feature today - Buddy Adventure. Pokemon Go players will soon be able to explore the world together with their favorite Pokemon. Niantic Lead Product Manager Ryuta Hiroi explained:
This is probably the closest feature we've worked with The Pokémon Company on since Pokémon GO launched. Even when your phone is in your pocket, it feels like your buddy Pokémon is by your side!
Up until now, the buddy Pokemon feature in the game was rather boring. You couldn't do more than collect candy. But the upcoming update is set to change that. The player selects a Pokemon as a buddy, which then follows them everywhere on the map. The buddy has a level system that can be increased through interaction. This means that the friendship level can be increased by running, fighting, petting, feeding and more. Interesting rewards await you in the process.
The stages at a glance
The first level is pretty simple. The selected buddy follows the player everywhere – a special display allows the buddy's mood to be evaluated. The second friendship level allows your buddy to help with catching new Pokemon and collecting items. The third level is even more interesting. The buddy Pokemon can inform the player about interesting places nearby and independently collect souvenirs, which are then displayed in the profile. The fourth and arguably final level is marked by a special "Buddy Ribbon" and gives the selected Pokemon a boost in battles, but this only applies as long as the respective Pokemon is listed as a buddy.
With the release of Buddy Pokémon, Trainers could take them for walks to receive Candy. The goal was to encourage players to get more exercise. Buddy Adventure introduces even more gameplay mechanics designed to encourage the spirit of discovery. Once a certain Buddy Level is reached, Buddy Pokémon can point out a PokéStop that interests them. The upcoming AR Shared Mode will create a significant social gameplay experience in the real world, as up to three Trainers can release their Pokémon from their Poké Balls to take a group photo.
The new buddy adventure is set to launch in early 2020, as Niantic has already announced. You want more gaming? In our Amazon Online Shop you will find the latest games for every console. (Photo by trezvuy / Bigstockphoto)
