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Pokemon Go adds more AR photo options

Catch the perfect Lugia shot.

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seankeane
Sean Keane Former Senior Writer
Sean knows far too much about Marvel, DC and Star Wars, and poured this knowledge into recaps and explainers on CNET. He also worked on breaking news, with a passion for tech, video game and culture.
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Sean Keane
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My Lugia checks out the bandstand at London's Arnold Square.

 Sean Keane/CNET

Niantic added a more robust photo mode to Pokemon Go that'll let you feel like you're playing a sequel to Pokemon Snap. (Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York should be pleased.)

The Go Snapshot feature, which was added to the Android version last week and the iOS one over the weekend, lets you take photos of Pokemon you've already caught, using the mobile game's AR+ mode.

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Raichu wanders in CNET's London office.

 Sean Keane/CNET

"Select a Pokemon and tap on the screen to throw its Poke Ball to that spot. Once your Pokemon is situated in the ideal spot, you can then move around it to find the best angle for your photo," Niantic said in a statement Feb. 12.

"Is your Pokemon distracted or looking the wrong way? Brush across it to get its attention, and it will be sure to face you."

So you can basically get the Pokemon you've caught to do your bidding beyond battling, by having them pose for photos. The shots you take will be automatically saved to your device.

"We've been inspired by the incredible photos Trainers have taken in AR+ mode and exploring new ways to further bridge the digital and physical worlds through Niantic's enhanced AR technologies" Ryuta Hiroi, Niantic's product manager, said in the statement. 

The augmented reality game was released in July 2016 and has been adding features ever since. It grossed more than $68 million in January, according to Sensor Tower. In September, it hit $2 billion in in-app purchases. 

Niantic on Tuesday is also adding the ability to switch teams. You'll be able to purchase a Team Medallion from the in-game store for 1,000 Pokecoins to change between Team Instinct (yellow), Team Mystic (blue) or Team Valor (red, clearly the best).

First published Feb. 12 at 10:04 a.m. PT.
Update Feb. 25 at 7:22 a.m. PT: Reflects that the feature's been added and highlights the team-switching features.

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