Pokemon GO players have been merrily catching Pokemon for over a month now. However, many have not felt a real connection to their digital pocket monsters past CP level and rarity. Based on newly-unearthed info from the latest version of the game, that may change.
Pokemon Go Hub has broken down the data mined by intrepid programming enthusiasts efinazz and AeonLucid. The data suggests that Niantic’s mobile sensation may be ready to introduce a buddy system to the game.
This supposed buddy system works very similar to the system players use to hatch Pokemon eggs currently. The only difference is that players will be able to walk with a Pokemon instead of an egg. The thought of Ash Ketchum walking with Pikachu in the Pokemon TV series undoubtedly pops into an old-school fans head. The benefit of such a stroll is that walking with a Pokemon rewards the player with candies. That is something very beneficial for players who wish to rare Pokemon. The only way to evolve Pokemon is to have enough candy, and rare Pokemon will not be available enough in the wild to successfully farm for candy.
How the actual mechanics of this buddy system would work is unknown. It’s possible that the selected Pokemon would travel alongside the player’s avatar on screen. There’s code for “medium,” “big,” “flying” and “shoulder”-bound Pokemon in the game. That may suggest that Pokemon would travel with the player differently. Think of a Caterpie or Magikarp riding on the avatar’s shoulder, while a Spearow would fly and an Eevee would walk alongside. Damn, how would a Snorlax travel with the player?
In the end, it looks like this will give Pokemon GO players a way to bond with their Pokemon. This is something that may bring back players who have lost interest in the game.
