Life

Where Can I Get "Pokemon Go" Plus?

If you've been waiting for the release of the "Pokemon Go" Plus wearable technology, you're not alone. So, now that a date has finally been named, the question has subsequently become, where can I get "Pokemon Go" Plus? Given that the augmented reality game has basically taken over the world, it's no surprise that so many people are eager to purchase a wearable to play it; after all, anything that gets our faces out of our phones while we walk down the street is a good thing.

You might remember that the original release date for "Pokemon Go" Plus was anticipated to occur at the end of July. That month, however, Nintendo of America confirmed on Twitter that the release date had been moved to September 2016, much to the chagrin of dedicated Trainers who had been clamoring for it right at the app's initial release. But on Sept. 7, it was announced that "'Pokemon Go' Plus will be available in much of the world next week, on Sept. 16," according to the official "Pokemon Go" website. It's finally almost here!

Pre-orders for "Pokemon Go" became available at a variety of outlets over the summer, and the demand was really high. Like, high enough that the pre-orders seem to be sold out most places already... which means that getting a hold of it even now that the release date has been announced might be a little difficult. (Then again, given the incredible popularity of the app, I guess we shouldn't feel too surprised.)

The device is basically a wearable that syncs with the app on your phone via Bluetooth. "Pokemon Go" Plus will blink and vibrate when you're near a Pokestop; if you want to collect items from said Pokestop, you simply tap a button. And if you're in the mood to catch Pokemon, just watch out for your "Pokemon Go" Plus to flash — this means a Pokemon is nearby. And yet again, capturing said Pokemon is as simple as pressing the button on your device. According to the product page on GameStop, "Pokemon Go" Plus will retail for $34.99.

Clearly, if you're a big fan of the "Pokemon Go" app, this device is basically made for you. So, where can you get it? Again, it might be... complicated. Here's the deal with a couple of your options:

1. Amazon

While there's a product page for "Pokemon Go" Plus on Amazon, it's currently listed as "unavailable"; Amazon also doesn't know when or if the item will be back in stock. On the bright side, you can click on "Email Me" to have Amazon notify you when the item is back in stock.

2. GameStop

As you can see on their website, GameStop does list the "Pokemon Go" Plus device as being available for Sept. 16. Unfortunately, the device is currently listed as "out of stock." GameStop allowed customers to place orders during a pre-order period, which appears to have ended. You can, however, add it to your "wishlist."

3. eBay

Oh, eBay. eBay is one of the great wonders of the Internet, and something we've all come to appreciate when we're hunting down something that's tough to find. Unfortunately, though, a lot of scammers also like to take advantage of the platform, so you need to be careful when making purchases. It's a good idea to always look for sellers with a large quantity of reviews, high ratings, and a long selling history.

In terms of the "Pokemon Go" Plus device, it appears that some eBay users are listing the devices they've pre-ordered on the online auction and sales site already. This means that even though the seller doesn't have the item in hand, they're promising that they'll pass it on to you when they receive it (as long as you buy it from them first, of course). As tends to be the norm with eBay, it appears that sellers are marking the "Pokemon Go" Plus well above other retail outlets: Some users, for example, have listed the device at $109, a big jump from the $34.99 standard retail price. Again: Be careful with this method!

Images: GameStop (3); Giphy