Pokémon Go adds Candy-awarding ‘Buddy’ feature, removes support for jailbroken devices

Announced over the weekend, the latest version of Pokémon Go with the new Buddy feature is rolling out now. Version 1.7.0 for iOS includes many bug fixes and support for the Pokémon Go Plus accessory, but also disables the game on jailbroken devices.

You can now select a Pokémon from your collection to be your Buddy. Besides looking cute next to your profile image and user avatar, walking with your Pokémon awards Candy that can be used to evolve and power up monsters. Navigate to your profile and then the menu in the bottom right corner to select a Buddy.

To eliminate bots and scrapers from the game, this latest version no longer supports jailbroken devices. After updating, jailbroken users will see a screen that says “This device, OS, or software is not compatible with Pokémon Go” and a link to learn more. Affected players should avoid this update for the time being.

Common bugs like eggs hatching without alerting users and app hangs when switching between networks have been addressed in this update. A usability fix also makes it easier to select smaller Pokémon on the main map. There are also obligatory minor text fixes.

With the Go Plus accessory launching next week, this version adds a pairing screen in the Settings menu. The Go Plus alerts users to nearby creatures and collects rewards from PokéStops without having to take out your phone. At $35, the wearable can be clipped or worn like a watch with an included band.