Pokémon Go fans are having fun watching creatures stroll around the map for the first time Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Pokémon Go fans are having fun watching creatures stroll around the map for the first time Buddy up. News by Tom Phillips Deputy Editor Updated on 19 Dec 2019 2 comments Pokémon Go's buddy feature went live last night for all players, and players are now having fun seeing how their favourite Pokémon look while wandering around the map. Over the three years of Pokémon Go so far, the game's creatures have actually remained pretty static. Sure, you can take them out to snap a quick photo, but their animations have remained fairly limited. Now, each Pokémon can run, fly, flap, or swim around the game's overworld map. And you can throw berries at them to feed them - leading to some fans being surprised where a few of their Pokémon's mouths actually are. Fans are still working out the exact mechanics of how best to level up your Pokémon's friendship stat - there are 10 hearts to unlock each day through various actions - petting, feeding, taking photos, battling with them on your team, walking with them and spinning a new PokéStop. But you can unlock a further set of hearts for each category by either purchasing a premium Poffin item (a bit like a cookie) or by hitting a hidden requirement for each activity type (ie. spinning 20 new PokéStops instead of one) which boosts your Pokémon's mood all the way up to its top level: excited. It'll take around a month to get your buddy up to Best Buddy status, where they gain a CP boost in battles. But you can unlock their ability to appear on the world map pretty much instantly - and here's how it all looks: Metagross flies! from r/TheSilphRoad To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Manage cookie settings When you tap a standing Slaking, it rests, and seems happy about it. from r/TheSilphRoad To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Manage cookie settings Riolu does the Naruto run from r/TheSilphRoad To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Manage cookie settings Dusknoir eats berries through its stomach from r/TheSilphRoad To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Manage cookie settings And there's also this, which appears to be a bug right now. Sometimes your buddy can seemingly have enough of your nonsense and simply run off into the sunset. Farewell, Ferroseed. Not sure if it's a bug but Ferroseed just rolled off screen. from r/TheSilphRoad To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Manage cookie settings Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 11 Latest Articles Digital Foundry Sennheiser's legendary HD 599 open-back headphones are just £70 at Amazon in the Prime Early Access Sale Comfortable with neutral sound and a wide sound stage. Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. 1 Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store