Bubbly Basin: Pokopia Expansion Pass Part 1 Hits August 5
The first part of the Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass finally has a date. Named Bubbly Basin, it releases on August 5, 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2 and opens up a brand-new underwater town for players who own the paid downloadable content.
The same day brings the free Version 2.0 update, which adds the move Dive for the entire community, pass or no pass. Here is what this first wave contains and what you need to do to reach it.
Bubbly Basin, Part 1 of the Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass
Announced during the Nintendo Direct of June 9, 2026, the Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass sells for $34.99 on Nintendo eShop. Its content rolls out across three successive waves, and Bubbly Basin is the first of them.
Existing save data carries over when the additional content is installed. There is no need to start a new file to access the expansion.
An underwater town and new Pokémon
Bubbly Basin takes the form of a settlement built beneath the waves, developed with the same building mechanics as the base game. Players meet Pokémon that live in the sea, alongside ocean floor-themed furniture and new outfits for Ditto.
Several aquatic species have been spotted in the trailer and on the official Expansion Pass artwork, among them Mudkip, Popplio and Corphish. The Mythical Pokémon Manaphy also appears at the end of the footage, though its exact role remains unconfirmed.
The free Version 2.0 update and the move Dive
August 5, 2026 also marks the rollout of Version 2.0 of Pokémon Pokopia. This update is free and requires no purchase. It adds the move Dive, which lets Ditto move freely underwater for the first time.
Dive applies to the water areas of the base game as well. Players who do not own the pass still gain fresh ground to explore and build on.
How to access Bubbly Basin
Access to the paid content depends on two prerequisites in your current save file:
- completing the important request "Raise the environment level!" in Bleak Beach;
- learning the move Dive, added by the free Version 2.0 update.
Learning Dive itself requires the ability to jump and knowledge of the move Surf. The underwater gate leading to Bubbly Basin only opens once these conditions are met.
The full Expansion Pass roadmap
The three parts of the pass are spread out through 2027:
- Part 1 - Bubbly Basin: August 5, 2026, underwater town, sea Pokémon, furniture and outfits.
- Part 2: late 2026, new features and new crafting recipes, with no new town.
- Part 3: 2027, a new town to explore and rebuild.
Buying the pass immediately unlocks a recipe for dynamic Ditto print blocks and wallpaper, available from the "Downloadable Content" menu. Buyers also receive an email code for 30 rare Pokémetal ingots, redeemable before August 31, 2027 via Mystery Gifts.
Frequently asked questions about Bubbly Basin
- When does Bubbly Basin release?
- Part 1 of the Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass releases on August 5, 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2.
- Is the move Dive paid content?
- No. Dive is added by the free Version 2.0 update, available to every player without buying the Expansion Pass.
- Do I need to restart my save to play Bubbly Basin?
- No. Existing save data is preserved when the additional content is installed.
- How much does the Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass cost?
- The pass is priced at $34.99 on Nintendo eShop and grants access to all three parts of the additional content.
With Bubbly Basin, Pokémon Pokopia opens its first major post-launch chapter a few months after its March 5, 2026 release. The formula stays the same: explore, gather, build. It simply extends to a marine environment, with the move Dive handed to everyone and two further content waves already scheduled through 2027.
