Still obsessed with Pokemon GO and hate checking your phone? Help is one the way.
Update 1: 09.08.16
Nintendo has now confirmed that the Pokemon GO Plus accessory will release on September 16th, in most countries. The countries which will not receive the device on that date (all of which appear to be in South America) will receive it later in the year.
The Pokemon GO Plus is designed to notify players when Pokemon are in the area and allow them to catch them without ever having to take out their phones. The recently announced version of Pokemon GO headed for the Apple Watch will also operate similarly, but the Plus is, of course, expected to retail for a considerably more wallet-friendly price than Apple's iPhone accessory.
Original Story: 07.12.16
We're still waiting to see the peak of the mountain of cash that Pokemon GO is generating for Nintendo and developer Niantic, but it's likely that the summit of that money pile will continue to rise higher as the app is released in other markets and Nintendo officially releases their previously announced Bluetooth companion device for Pokemon GO.
Actually, if the current eBay market is any indication, the demand for that Bluetooth device may be reaching "Nintendo Wii at launch" levels.
The Pokemon GO Plus device, which allows users to interact with Pokemon GO by catching Pokemon without needing to stare at their screens, does not even have a definitive release date and is already sold out on sites like Amazon, Nintendo, and Gamestop via pre-orders. Their availability has become so scarce that some Pokemon fans are now turning to eBay where pre-ordered units are selling for upwards of $200.
Based on the descriptions of the sellers, it appears that they purchased what is now recognized as a "guaranteed pre-order unit," meaning that they are assuring anyone that purchases this device that they will receive their unit from the Plus' first shipment. The Pokemon GO Plus device itself is expected to retail for only $35 and is currently set to start shipping out sometime before the end of the month.
Although it is somewhat unbelievable to imagine that a device that basically allows you to play Pokemon GO without needing to stare at your phone is commanding such a high pre-release markup, given the sheer scope of Pokemon GO's popularity up until this point, it appears that many fans are realizing that there is a very good chance that those who missed out on the initial pre-order period for this peripheral will not be able to get their hands on one for quite some time.
There's currently no update on when Nintendo may be making additional pre-orders for the Pokemon GO Plus device available, so those who simply cannot wait to experience a more pedestrian-friendly version of Pokemon GO may indeed have to navigate the treacherous waters of the eBay market.
