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Are you that person in the park constantly looking down at a phone trying to capture Pokémon? Well, if you are that person then I have some good news for you! The Pokémon GO tracking system is constantly growing to almost every corner of the globe. But now, the system works differently. Trainers now have the “nearby” tracker or their app as well as a “sightings” tracker. So, what’s the difference between these two trackers?
Here is a quick rundown for you Pokémon fanatics. This updated version of the game’s tracking system contains the “nearby” tracker, which helps you track down your Pokémon prey by telling you the nearest PokeStop. This feature was released months back, but only for some players in San Francisco. Niantic was going to release this feature as the primary tracking system for the game, but they received plenty of complaints from fans, which really altered their plans. Many rural users had only a few PokeStops nearby and were very upset because they were having a harder time finding Pokémon to catch.
Here is a look at that “nearby” tracking system:
For the rural Pokémon players among us, you’re going to love the “sightings” tracking system. This system works on a much higher refresh rate, so the Pokémon listed on the screen are more likely to be in the area than not. This feature alerts you of Pokémon in precisely a 200-meter radius from where you’re standing, sitting, or scrolling. These very close Pokémon are displayed on your screen next to blades of grass. You won’t need a PokeStop because you’ll have all the info you need on your quest to catch ’em all!
If you’ve already used the “nearby” and or “sightings” tracking system then you’ll probably notice one distinct detail. These tracking systems switch automatically and you’ll have no control over which one you can choose. Sometimes, you’ll have both tracking systems available at the same time, which would be the case if you’re near a few PokeStops. But if you’re in an area flooded with PokeStops then the “nearby” tracking system will be the only system available to you (specifically if there are more than three Pokémon in the vicinity).
Many Pokémon Go fans are happy with these developments but are still a little sore on the fact that they can’t toggle through these two tracking systems. These fans would like the right to choose when it comes to their Pokémon tracking system. But still, many enthusiasts are more than satisfied with this updated system for Pokémon GO.
Niantic released a statement confirming that these latest updates to the Pokémon GO tracking system were based on fans’ feedback. “To provide a better experience when searching for Pokémon in the real world, we have also made some changes to the way the Nearby Pokémon feature functions when there are only a few PokéStops in range,” said the Pokémon GO team “We will continue to review the feedback submitted on our official social media accounts and in other channels and make changes if necessary.”
Many fans embraced these developments, while other Pokémon hunters are still pretty damn butthurt. But Niantic proved that they do listen to their fans pleas and complaints. So, let your butthurt be known and you will probably see greater Go updates in the future!
Go catch some Pokémon, you crazy kids!
