Not too long ago, a Pokemon GO datamine of version 0.87.5 revealed the developer Niantic had plans to introduce an AR Plus mode that would be a more in-depth version of the popular mobile augmented reality title's current AR mode. Now, the company has officially confirmed that mode does indeed exist–succinctly named "AR+"–but it will only be implemented in updates on Apple devices.

According to a recent announcement from Niantic, the update is available now, and it allows Pokemon GO to make use of Apple’s ARKit technology for devices with iOS 11, which the company says should create a more “dynamic gameplay” experience. Evidently, once the AR+ functionality has become activated, owners of the iPhone 6s and newer models will be given the chance to interact more directly with wild Pokemon.

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To be more specific, with AR+ enabled in Pokemon GO, should a trainer move closer or further away to the creature on the screen, it will respond accordingly. As it so happens, a Pokemon could even run away depending on whether or not the trainer is getting too close to it, as there's a potential for the Pocket Monster to become frightened.

Furthermore, Pokemon GO will be incorporating new bonuses as a means to incentivize fans to use AR+. The Expert Handler capture bonus, for instance, will grant players additional experience points, and it will be unlocked when a trainer is able to get close enough to capture a Pokemon without scaring it away first.

Apparently, this enhanced AR experience has been in development for several months. Back in June of this year, in fact, Niantic joined Apple executives on stage during 2017's Worldwide Developers Conference to offer a preview of the functionalities of the ARKit technology working in tandem with Pokemon GO. Hopefully, for the sake of Niantic, making the feature exclusive to iOS 11 devices won't alienate PoGO's Android user base and result in non-Apple players abandoning ship.

Pokemon GO is available now for Android and iOS devices.

Source: Pokemon GO