"Pokemon Go" developer Niantic has already confirmed that a huge update is coming really soon, and it includes the highly anticipated Buddy System. This new game mechanic promises to produce candies when players walk a particular distance with their Pokemon buddy, and that players can switch buddies whenever they want to. However, whether or not this can be done for a cost of could be another venue for in-game transactions is yet to be known when the update rolls out.
De Soto Edge reports that it is highly possible that Niantic could be charging its players to have extra buddy slots for more yields, like the egg incubator. For now, players would have to await the actual implementation of the new mechanics that this update brings to see if in-game transactions will be tied in to the game.
Heavy writes that a player would be rewarded with candy for walking a certain distance with the buddy Pokemon in the game. It is also reported that the Buddy Pokemon will be appearing alongside the Trainer avatar in the profile and reward a player with generous bonuses, including candy. It is also speculated that this new system is just the beginning of new things for the game since Niantic has pledged to bring more updates after this.
It is also reported that the Pokemon buddy would be able to pick up items along the way as it walks alongside a player. This could potentially solve limited PokeStop issues in remote and rural areas since player can walk to get items for themselves.
As exciting as it is, the Pokemon Buddy concept is not anything new since it had appeared as early as Pokemon Yellow, and even the Anime. Back then, a trainer's favourite Pokemon is usually its strongest and is basically inseparable from its trainer, just as Pikachu was to Ash. While "Pokemon Go" has some inherent limitations as brought about its augmented reality concept, it is comforting to know that the developer has made it possible. With an even better reward system, it seems that "Pokemon Go" is stepping up even more after conquering the mobile gaming industry in just a matter of weeks.