Pokémon Pokopia Bubbly Basin expansion is out now

The first expansion pack for Pokémon Pokopia has arrived on Nintendo Switch 2, courtesy of Game Freak and Omega Force, with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company publishing. Titled "Bubbly Basin," the update arrived on August 5, 2026, alongside a comprehensive free software update for all players, expanding the social simulation title with underwater exploration, a new submerged town, and fresh crafting mechanics.

Free update introduces Dive ability and Manaphy

The simultaneous free update introduces the move Dive to Pokémon Pokopia, allowing Ditto to explore beneath the water's surface for the first time. To learn the move, players must encounter the Mythical Pokémon Manaphy after meeting specific progression milestones, including raising the environment level at Bleak Beach and unlocking both Surf and Jump. Once acquired, Dive opens up previously inaccessible underwater regions across the base game's existing map, giving all players access to submerged resource gathering and new aquatic areas without requiring the paid expansion pass.

Bubbly Basin expands underwater town-building

The paid Bubbly Basin expansion opens a dedicated underwater settlement where players team up with a lone Popplio to rebuild a waterlogged community. The update introduces buoyant blocks to construct floating houses, alongside a full set of ocean-themed furniture and customization items. The expansion also adds specialized tasks for different Pokémon types; water-specialty Pokémon can cultivate underwater crops such as watermelons, while generate-specialty Pokémon power street lamps and machinery to illuminate the submerged town at night.

Expansion Pass pricing and future roadmap

Bubbly Basin represents the first installment of the three-part Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass, which is available on the Nintendo eShop for $34.99 USD. Players who purchase the pass receive access to all three waves as they release, along with exclusive recipes for dynamic Ditto print blocks and a promotional code for 30 Rare Pokémetal Ingots available through August 31, 2027. 

The second content wave is scheduled to arrive in late 2026, introducing Pokémon accessories, while the third wave will add another new town in 2027. Nintendo also confirmed a limited-time Fetching Scales for Feebas in-game event, which will run from August 13 to August 28, 2026.