The recently announced Pokemon GO update started rolling out on Google Play Store over the weekend and should already be available for download all over the world. Just like it was expected, the version 0.37.0 of the popular mobile game introduces the so-called Pokemon Buddy system which lets you choose one of your captured Pokemon to follow you around during your quest to become the very best like no one ever was. What that does is generates Candy for your Pokemon buddy so that it can be trained and evolved even without capturing and transferring a single one of its duplicates. In addition to that, using a Pokemon buddy also has some other hidden benefits as Niantic has promised “unique in-game rewards and experiences” for players using certain buddies. Unfortunately, that vague description suggests most of these benefits are ones that a lot of users might not find right away.
Furthermore, the update deals with a whole bunch of annoying Pokemon GO bugs that players have been complaining about ever since the game launched in July. More specifically, disappearing eggs, eggs that hatch without notifications, crashes, and problems when switching networks should all be a thing of the past now. While the user interface itself is seemingly unchanged, selecting Pokemon on the in-game app is now easier due to more precise detection which is especially useful when you’re trying to interact with a Pokemon that’s close to another Pokemon, a Gym, or a PokeStop. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Niantic Labs’ update if its changelog didn’t mention “minor text fixes”. Last but not least, the latest Pokemon GO update also updates the game with Pokemon GO Plus support as the said accessory is finally hitting the market this week with a $35 price tag.
And while this app version if filled with content and useful fixes, not all players are going to be thrilled with it. Namely, Niantic Labs has now officially started its fight against in-game bots and its first step is – eliminating support for rooted Android phones. If you try to install the latest Pokemon GO version on a rooted device, you’ll be met with a message that says “this device, OS, or software is not compatible with Pokemon GO.”