Pokémon Go Plus launches next week

The Pokémon Go Plus, Nintendo’s wearable accessory for Niantic Labs’ phenomenally popular mobile game, will be available Sept. 16 "in most countries," Niantic announced tonight.

The device will be released later this year in "a few South American territories," according to Niantic.

Nintendo is producing the Pokémon Go Plus, which was originally scheduled to come out in July — the same month that Pokémon Go itself launched. In late July, Nintendo delayed the accessory to September, citing a need for more development time on the update to Pokémon Go that will make the game and the device work with each other.

The Pokémon Go Plus is a $34.99 device that can be worn on the wrist or as a pin. It is compatible with both the Android and iOS versions of Pokémon Go, and is built to allow people to play the game without having their smartphone out. The device uses Bluetooth Smart, a connection designed for health and fitness apps, to alert users to the presence of nearby Pokémon and PokéStops. Players will even be able to collect items from PokéStops and catch Pokémon by pressing a button on the Pokémon Go Plus.

Niantic announced yesterday, during Apple’s iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2 event, that it is also working on Pokémon Go for the Apple Watch. That version will apparently replicate much of the functionality of the Pokémon Go Plus. For more details on the accessory, check out our explainer.