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The Pokémon Go Plus wearable will launch next week

The Pokémon Go Plus wearable will launch next week

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The Pokémon Go Plus wearable will be released on September 16th, developer Niantic Labs has announced, almost two months after its planned launch date. The $35 device — a wrist-mounted BlueTooth sensor that vibrates when pokémon and pokéstops are near — was originally set for launch at the end of July, but was pushed back until September without explanation. Nintendo apologized to customers who preordered the Pokémon Go Plus after the release delay was initially announced, promising them a discount on future purchases. It's an approach that seems to have worked — the device remains sold out at both Amazon and GameStop.

Pokémon Go developer Niantic Labs and the Pokémon Company announced the revised release date shortly after Apple's September 7th press conference, at which Niantic confirmed that an Apple Watch version of the app was on its way. The developer may hope that the new version and wearable will help reverse its player exodus: Pokémon Go's popularity has dipped since its launch, dropping from 45 million active users in late July to 30 million in mid-August.