Quick Scoop: What the Poké Ball Plus (and “Plus Plus”) Can Do

There’s a small but important mix‑up in the name: the official accessory is called Poké Ball Plus , not “Poké Ball Plus Plus.” When people say “Plus Plus,” they’re usually thinking of either the newer Pokémon GO Plus+ device or just misremembering the name. Here’s what each can do and how they differ.

Poké Ball Plus (the classic Poké Ball–shaped controller)

The Poké Ball Plus is a dedicated accessory released alongside Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! for Nintendo Switch. It doubles as a controller and a Pokémon GO companion.

With Pokémon: Let’s Go on Switch

  • Full one‑handed controller : Replaces a Joy‑Con for menus, walking around, and battling.
  • Motion throwing : You physically flick the ball to throw Poké Balls in‑game using its gyro/accelerometer.
  • Immersion features : Lights up, rumbles (HD Rumble), and plays sounds when you catch a Pokémon, making it feel like the monster is “inside” the ball.
  • “Take a Pokémon for a walk” : You can store one Pokémon in the device, carry it in real life, shake it to hear/feel it, and earn experience and bonus items based on distance traveled.
  • Mew included : Every Poké Ball Plus contains the Mythical Pokémon Mew , which you can transfer once into Let’s Go (and also into Sword /Shield).

With Pokémon GO (as a Pokémon GO Plus)

  • Auto‑catch / auto‑spin : When a Pokémon or PokéStop is nearby, it vibrates/lights; pressing the button throws a Poké Ball or spins the Stop without touching your phone.
  • LED color codes : Different colors indicate what’s nearby or what happened (e.g., green/yellow for Pokémon, blue for PokéStop, rainbow for successful catch).
  • Distance tracking : While connected, it still counts your steps for egg hatching and buddy candy, just like the original GO Plus.

Note: With Sword and Shield , functionality is limited mainly to receiving the one Mew and using the “walk with Pokémon” feature; it’s not a full controller for those games.

Pokémon GO Plus+ (the “Plus Plus” people often mean)

The device that actually matches the “Plus Plus” idea is Pokémon GO Plus+ , a small round accessory designed specifically for Pokémon GO (and Pokémon Sleep).

Core features in Pokémon GO

  • Auto‑catcher mode : Keeps catching Pokémon and spinning PokéStops in the background while your phone is in your pocket.
  • Better ball selection : Unlike the original GO Plus (which only uses standard Poké Balls), the Plus+ can be set to automatically use Great Balls or Ultra Balls for encounters, improving catch rates.
  • Notification & feedback: Vibrates and lights up to indicate encounters, catches, and spins.

With Pokémon Sleep

  • Sleep tracking companion : Works as part of the Pokémon Sleep setup, helping track sleep sessions and providing audio/feedback tied to the app.
  • Themed sounds & lullabies: Includes Pikachu‑voiced lullabies and other audio cues as part of the sleep experience.

It does not function as a Switch controller for Let’s Go or other console games; it’s purely a mobile companion.

Side‑by‑side: What each can do

Feature| Poké Ball Plus| Pokémon GO Plus+
---|---|---
Works as Switch controller for Let’s Go| ✅ Full one‑handed controller with motion throwing| ❌ Not compatible
Catches Pokémon in Pokémon GO automatically| ✅ Yes (standard Poké Balls only)| ✅ Yes (Poké/Great/Ultra Balls selectable)
Spins PokéStops in Pokémon GO| ✅ Yes| ✅ Yes
Take a Pokémon “for a walk” (console games)| ✅ Yes (Let’s Go , limited in Sword/Shield)| ❌ No
Includes Mew for console games| ✅ Yes (one per device)| ❌ No
Designed for Pokémon Sleep| ❌ No| ✅ Yes
Form factor| Poké Ball–shaped with stick + hidden button| Small round disc, button‑based

So, “what can the Poké Ball Plus Plus do?”

  • If you mean Poké Ball Plus : it’s a Poké Ball–shaped Switch controller for Let’s Go with motion catching, rumble, sound, lights, “walk with Pokémon,” and a free Mew, plus it works as a basic auto‑catcher/spinner for Pokémon GO.
  • If you mean Pokémon GO Plus+ : it’s a dedicated Pokémon GO (and Sleep) accessory that auto‑catches with better balls, auto‑spins PokéStops, and integrates with Pokémon Sleep , but it does not work as a Switch controller and has no Mew.

If you tell me which games you play (Let’s Go , GO , Sleep , etc.), I can suggest which device actually fits your setup.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.