Pokemon Go Updated With These Changes, New Sighting Feature Added for Tracking

Niantic Labs today released a new update for the massively popular Pokemon Go. Among other things, the update introduces a new reminder not to play the game while driving a car. Playing a video game while driving, or doing anything else that distracts you, is a bad idea.

The patch notes were listed on the official Niantic website and are listed below. In addition to the new reminder not to play "while traveling above a certain speed," there are bug fixes and the ability to change your nickname. It's not mentioned in the patch notes, but apparently the "Nearby" feature is gone, replaced by "Sightings."

Sightings seems to be a replacement for the Nearby feature, which would provide an indication of any Pokemon in the vicinity, but was removed. It highlights which monsters are in the area, and these Pokemon will stay on your Sightings screen as you get closer, but disappear if you move further away. This makes tracking them down a little easier without revealing exact locations, as third-party services did. Take a look screenshots below.

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Pokemon Go August 8 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” Poké Ball throws from awarding the appropriate XP bonuses.
• Fixed achievements showing incorrect Medal icons.
• Enabled the ability for Trainers to change their nickname one time. Please choose your new nickname wisely.
• Resolved issues with the battery saver mode on iOS and re-enabled the feature.
• Added visuals of Team Leaders Candela, Blanche, and Spark.
• We’re currently testing a variation of the “Nearby Pokémon” feature with a subset of users. During this period you may see some variation in the nearby Pokémon UI.
• Minor text fixes

In other news about Pokemon Go, you can no longer catch creatures at the Holocaust Museum or the Hiroshima atomic bomb memorial. Additionally, a new report claims the free game has brought in more than $200 million from its various micotransactions.