Pokemon Go Buddy Update Out Now [UPDATE]

[UPDATE] The Buddy update is now available on both iOS and Android devices.

The original story follows.

Pokemon Go's Buddy update has started to roll out. If you download it, you'll be able to choose one of your Pokemon to be your buddy and earn candies as you walk with them.

In addition to the new Buddy feature, the update adds Pokemon Go Plus support. The wearable device releases next week, and you can find out everything you need to know with our handy guide.

The update also fixes network reliability and minor text-related issues. Additionally, an issue where eggs would hatch without alerting you and playing the animation has been fixed. Players would notice their eggs had disappeared, while a new creature had popped up in their list, robbing them of the momentous occasion of a hatching Pokemon.

Developer Niantic recently announced that Pokemon Go is on its way to Apple Watch by the end of the year. The Watch app will display several pieces of information, including the distance needed to hatch eggs and the remaining XP needed to level up. Nearby Pokemon will also be shown on its display.

A recent report stated that Pokemon Go's paying population has dropped by 79 percent since its peak on July 15. Despite this huge decline, the augmented-reality game is still the most profitable mobile game.