Skip to main content

Latest ‘Pokémon Go’ update adds a new tracking system that shows some promise

Tracking in Pokémon Go has been a bit of a mess since the game launched at the start of July. While the popular app may have earned the developers more than $200 million, that cash didn’t help to keep an eye on Pokémon, as the three-step system disappeared and was replaced with just about nothing for weeks. Now, however, we have a hint of a new system, and it seems to have gone down well enough so far.

The three-step tracking system in place when Pokémon Go first debuted at the start of July involved showing Pokémon in the nearby area, with either one, two, or three paw prints under them to indicate their relative distance from the player. However, that system bugged out shortly after launch, and developer Niantic eventually removed it to thwart third-party tracking sites.

Recommended Videos

That left users with aimless wandering as their only technique for finding Pokémon and endless frustration as their main emotion. Fortunately, Niantic didn’t wait too long to fix it, as we already have the workings of a new tracking system. It’s not quite what we had before, but it shows some promise.

Related: Pokémon Go now wants you to confirm you’re not driving while playing

The new tracking system shows you nearby Pokémon as before, but lets you know whether you need to hang out at a Pokéstop to find them. If you don’t, it gives you a rough idea of their distance from you, with a grass symbol behind them to let you know that they’re a little off the beaten track.

https://twitter.com/ummjackson/status/762860057159618561

Niantic has also made the list update more often, so while there’s not quite the same accuracy as there was with the steps system, the new one definitely brings advantages.

Along with the tracking improvement, the latest Pokémon Go patch also introduced new artwork for the various team leaders and a fix for the bug that had prevented well-thrown Pokéballs from giving extra EXP. Curveballs should now be more accurate and there’s also an option for trainers to change their nickname one time if they choose.

Jon Martindale
Jon Martindale is a freelance evergreen writer and occasional section coordinator, covering how to guides, best-of lists, and…
All new and returning Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet: The Indigo Disk
A Pokémon trainer holding a glowing Pokémon ball.

It's finally time, trainers. The last DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, The Indigo Disk, will put a firm cap on the latest Pokédex. The DLC not only adds a handful of new critters to the list but also brings back a huge swath of returning favorites from past generations that make exploring Paldea a fresh experience all over again. Your new adventure will have you attempting to solve the mystery of an ancient myth in Kitakami, and perhaps these new Pokémon hold some answers.

Here are all the new Pokémon you can look forward to battling and catching, as well as the list of returning ones to see if your childhood favorite made the cut.
All new Pokémon
Just like in the Teal Mask DLC, this final expansion only adds four new Pokémon. Here's a breakdown of each:
Terapagos
This is the poster child for this DLC, and is going to play a major part of the game's story. Because of its importance, we don't know almost any details about it, including what type it is, except that it does have a Terastal Form.
Raging Bolt

Read more
Pokémon Sleep shows the power and pitfalls of a gamified health app
A Pikachu sleeps on a bed.

Pokémon Sleep launched on my birthday. I’ll probably never forget that fact due to the embarrassing text message I had to send upon learning the sleep-tracking app was suddenly available on iOS and Android devices. Knowing I had a journalistic duty to fulfill, I sent a message to my girlfriend -- who had planned out a lovely night out for us -- to let her know that I’d have to leave my phone on my bed when we slept that night so Snorlax could gobble up my data.

“Lmao okay,” she replied.

Read more
Pokémon Sleep is here and it features some surprising microtransactions
An illustration of a Snorlax and other Pokémon napping from the Pokémon Sleep trailer.

Pokémon Sleep is now available in the United States for both iOS and Android devices. While the sleep tracking app is free to download, it has some surprising monetization built into it thanks to a paid monthly plan and microtransactions.

First revealed in 2019, Pokémon Sleep is a cross between a sleep-tracking app and an idle game. When users leave their phone on their bed at night, it'll record their sleep quality and habits by sensing vibrations and using their phone's microphone. When they wake up, they'll help a professor "research" Pokémon that have gathered around a sleeping Snorlax overnight. It's a cute way to gamify a sleep-tracking app, adding a "catch 'em all" element to the mix.

Read more