New Pokemon Go Update Out Now, Here's What It Does

A new Pokemon Go update has arrived, while developer Niantic has also announced a new retail partnership for the popular smartphone game.

As announced on the game's blog, one of the new features introduced in the December 6 update is the ability for players to transfer multiple Pokemon simultaneously to Professor Willow. Players can press and hold on a Pokemon to do this.

The update also adds icons for Pokemon type to the Gym battle approach and Gym battle screens, while the total candy county for buddy Pokemon is added to the buddy information screen. Another new feature is that the total distance a buddy Pokemon has walked will be shown on the information screen for every creature that you've ever designated as a buddy Pokemon.

Lastly, the new Pokemon Go update includes "minor text fixes," though these were not specified. The full patch notes are below.

Pokemon Go December 6 Update (0.49.1 for Android and 1.19.1 for iOS):

• Trainers will be able to transfer multiple Pokemon at a time to Professor Willow. To use this function, press and hold on a Pokemon.
• Pokemon type icons have been added to the Gym battle approach and Gym battle screen.
• The total Candy count for your Buddy Pokemon has been added to the buddy information screen.
• The total kilometers a buddy has walked has been added to the information screen of each Pokemon that has ever been your buddy.
• Minor text fixes.

In other news, Niantic has announced that it's partnered with telecommunications giant Sprint for a "special Pokemon Go experience" at over 10,500 Sprint and subsidiary stores around the US.

"As part of this collaboration, Sprint, Boost Mobile, and Sprint at Radioshack stores will become PokeStops and Gyms, giving you even more places to stock up on Poke Balls and Razz Berries and to battle your friends," Niantic explained. "Sprint locations will also feature in-store charging stations to keep your Pokemon Go sessions going even longer."

Earlier this year, Niantic announced that it would partner with retailers and other companies to transform them into PokeStops and Gyms. The first announced partner was McDonald's, while there is a rumor that Starbucks will get in on the action as well. A leak from the coffee chain this week revealed that more Pokemon are coming to the game soon, a rumor that has now been confirmed. The Pokemon Company and Niantic will announce more critters on Monday, December 12.