A new update just rolled out for Pokemon GO that fixes several important issues and implements a new tracking feature only available to a small group of players.

Niantic released a new update in the app store for Pokemon GO last night (version 1.3.0) that addresses a lot of the issues plaguing the game since the infamous update at the end of July that caused a huge kerfuffle throughout the Pokemon GO community. It seems developer Niantic has heard the cries of millions of Pokemon trainers desperate for a way to locate the little critters because they have included a new tracker in this latest update. However, it is only available to a select few for testing before it is tweaked and then released to the public.

Niantic mentioned this limitation in the game's update notes on the app store:

We're currently testing a variation of the "Nearby Pokemon" feature with a subset of users. During this period you may see some variation in the nearby Pokemon UI.

Some of those lucky few have posted screenshots of what the tracker looks like, such as this reddit user. From the screenshot it appears the new tracker has been split into two sections: the first is "sightings" and the other is "nearby", which is only available to those select users. Sightings appears to only show Pokemon in the vicinity, while nearby shows Pokemon near Poke Stops, and even includes a picture to help indicate which Poke Stop to search. For a better understanding of sightings,

According to some testers on reddit, tapping the Pokemon you want to track will create an icon over the Poke Stop where that Pokemon is located. A few testers are also claiming that when they visit said Poke Stop, the Pokemon in question is within radius and shows up with little effort; meaning, if the tracker says the Pokemon is there, it's there. Good news for those missing the golden days of Pokevision, where they could pinpoint exact Pokemon locations. However, this only works for Poke Stops, and Pokemon in the wild are still elusive as ever.

In addition to the new, experimental tracking features, Niantic also addressed some other big issues in the update. Here are the rest of the August 8 Pokemon Go patch notes:

  • Added a dialog to remind Trainers that they should not play while traveling above a certain speed. Trainers must confirm they are not driving in order to continue playing.
  • Made improvements to the accuracy of a curveball throw.
  • Fixed a bug that prevented "Nice," "Great," and "Excellent" Poke Ball throws from awarding the appropriate experience bonuses.
  • Fixed achievements showing incorrect Medal icons.
  • Enabled the ability for Trainers to change their nickname one time, so please choose your new nickname wisely.
  • Resolved issues with the battery saver mode and re-enabled this feature
  • Added visuals of Team leaders - Candela, Blanche, and Spark

Niantic has had a busy week, it seems. They beefed up the safety measures once again and resolved some frustrating problems. As for the tracker, it looks to be keeping the meandering down by a significant amount, but it is not quite where it needs to be to please everyone. It is a bit different than some had imagined, but it is a step in the right direction. Plus, considering the amount of backlash Niantic got for removing the tracker in the first place, it is nice to see them already working on a solution a little over a week later. Players will just have to sit tight while testers help shape the tracker into something useful that everyone can enjoy. How long that will be is unknown, but stay tuned to Game Rant for updates on this story as they come.

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Pokemon GO is out now for Android and iOS devices in select areas.