Pokémon Pokopia Bubbly Basin Expansion Gets Extended Gameplay Trailer And August 5 Release Date

Nintendo has released an extended deep-dive video showcasing Pokémon Pokopia’s upcoming free Dive update and paid Bubbly Basin expansion. We also know both updates arrive on August 5.

As previously announced, a free update lets Ditto learn the new Dive ability from newcomer Manaphy. Dive lets players explore underwater indefinitely, allowing them to build just about anything below the waves, with various water Pokémon joining you along the way. Players will first need to complete the “Raise the Environmental Level” mission in Bleak Beach and learn the moves Jump and Surf to trigger the free update content. 

On the same day, Pokémon Pokopia’s Expansion Pass, a three-part paid DLC pack priced at $34.99, introduces Part 1 – Bubbly Basin, a new abandoned town lying beneath the ocean. Upon arrival, players meet Popplio and begin the usual process of building habitats to attract new Pokémon to restore the submerged village. New buoyant blocks allow you to construct floating houses (which can be decorated with new ocean-themed furniture) and other buildings. When it gets dark, Chinchou can use its electricity to power light sources and other electronics. Bubbly Basin features a deeper, pitch-black area you can only explore by relying on glowing coral. What lies at this depth remains a mystery for players to discover. 

The video also teases the second piece of Expansion Pass content. Part 2, arriving later this year, will add Pokémon accessories and a new town. The roadmap also shows Part 3, which introduces another town, to launch in 2027. These DLCs will not be sold separately, so you’ll need to purchase the full Expansion Pass to play them. Buying the Expansion Pass also gives owners the Dynamic Ditto print recipe, obtained by visiting the “Downloadable Content” option in the main menu, as well as 30 rare Pokémetal ingots. You can grab the ingots either by entering a serial code sent to the registered Nintendo Account email after buying the Expansion Pass or by using the in-game Mystery Gifts feature. Those using the code have until August 31 to claim it, and, once they have it, September 30 to redeem it. 

Pokémon Pokopia is now available on Switch 2. You can read our review of the game here.