It's almost here! Pokémon GO Plus will be available in much of the world on Sept. 16: https://t.co/ZekOacenkl pic.twitter.com/vzeVQH6Ekt — Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) September 8, 2016

The companion device was announced nearly a year ago along with the game, however it has been delayed in order to make it work better with the game. The big question is if adding on a $35 device that makes catching monsters (apparently) as easy as just pressing a button when it lights up will ruin the game for both casual and hardcore players. Despite those massive install numbers, the number of active players has clearly dropped since the hype peaked this summer. Now, we wait and see if adding dedicated hardware to the mix will keep players invested or drive them away just as weather in the US gets colder and gyms are harder to get to.

The Niantic Team: