Pokémon Go is testing the Explorer Gadget, a virtual item that plays the game for you

Pokémon Go is quietly testing the Explorer Gadget, a virtual item that automatically throws Pokéballs and spins PokéStops while the app is closed. The feature is live for a subset of players right now, though Niantic hasn't said a word about it officially.

Once activated, the Explorer Gadget runs once per day and handles catching and spinning on your behalf without the app open. The catch and spin limits vary significantly between players — some are seeing a cap as low as 10 each, others as high as 70, with plenty of values in between, suggesting Niantic is testing different configurations. The gadget essentially does what the physical Go Plus accessory does, a device that retails for $50 or more. For now it appears to be free, though a paid tier with higher limits seems like an obvious next step.

Players have known this was coming for months thanks to datamined files, and most had assumed it would launch as a paid feature. The apparent free rollout has caught the community off guard in the best way. Niantic still hasn't acknowledged the Explorer Gadget exists, let alone confirmed it's in testing.

Reaction from players has been broadly positive. The consensus is that because it only works when you're not actively playing, it doesn't replace the core experience — it just hoovers up stray Pokémon and resources in the background and gives you something to look forward to when you next open the app.