The Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass is turning Pokémon Pokopia into an even bigger cozy adventure, with three planned waves of paid DLC packed into one purchase. Nintendo announced the Expansion Pass on June 9, 2026, during a Nintendo Direct, and the first major expansion, Bubbly Basin, is already here.
For players who love building, decorating, exploring, farming and hanging out with Pokémon, Bubbly Basin is a serious change of scenery. The expansion sends us beneath the waves, introduces a completely new town to rebuild, adds aquatic Pokémon and furniture, and brings new mechanics that take advantage of the underwater environment. The first DLC arrived on August 5, 2026, alongside the free Version 2.0.0 update.
The Expansion Pass is also bigger than Bubbly Basin. It covers three planned DLC parts, with Part 2 scheduled for late 2026 and Part 3 planned for 2027. So, here’s the complete breakdown of the Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass, including its price, release schedule, Bubbly Basin features, access requirements, bonuses and everything currently confirmed for the future.
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Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass Price and Release Schedule
The Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass costs $34.99 in the United States, although regional pricing varies by market. New players can also purchase a Pokémon Pokopia + Expansion Pass bundle for $104.99, which includes the base game and the complete Expansion Pass.
The biggest thing to understand is that the Expansion Pass is one purchase covering all three planned DLC parts. You don’t need to buy Bubbly Basin separately and then pay again for Parts 2 and 3.
Here’s the current roadmap:
| Expansion Pass content | Release date | What it adds |
| Dynamic Ditto Print Bonus | June 9, 2026 | Ditto-themed block and wallpaper recipes |
| Part 1: Bubbly Basin | August 5, 2026 | New underwater town, Pokémon, furniture, mechanics and activities |
| Part 2 | Late 2026 | New features, furniture, Pokémon and Pokémon accessories |
| Part 3 | 2027 | A completely new town to explore and rebuild |
The Dynamic Ditto print bonus became available immediately with Patch 1.1.0. Bubbly Basin then launched on August 5 alongside the free Version 2.0.0 update.
Part 2 is planned as a feature-focused expansion rather than another town. Snubbull is already confirmed for that content, alongside new features, furniture, Pokémon and Pokémon accessories.
Part 3 is the next major town expansion, with Nintendo confirming that it will introduce a completely new town in 2027. Details about its setting and gameplay have not yet been revealed to the same extent as Bubbly Basin.
More Pokémon Coverage: If Pokopia has you thinking about catching more Pokémon on the go, August’s Spotlight Hour events are worth planning around too. Dive into our guide on Pokémon GO’s Spotlight Hour lineup for August 2026.
Bubbly Basin Is Where Pokopia Goes Fully Underwater
Bubbly Basin is the first full expansion included with the Expansion Pass, and it launched on August 5, 2026.
This isn’t just another collection of decorative items dropped into the existing world. Bubbly Basin introduces an entirely new underwater town built around ocean life. Players get another substantial area to explore, customize and rebuild, while the underwater setting creates room for mechanics that would not naturally fit into the game’s existing environments.
The expansion combines construction, exploration, Pokémon, customization and new activities into one aquatic package.
What’s New in Bubbly Basin?
Bubbly Basin includes:
- A new underwater town
- Ocean-themed furniture
- New outfits
- Ditto outfits and customization
- New Pokémon, including Mudkip, Popplio and Corphish
- Buoyant building blocks
- Watermelon growing
- Smoothies
- Bubble machines and streetlights
- A Sharpedo submarine-style room
- A Surf power-up
- A mysterious hole in the sea floor
- A new Dream Island featuring a Starmie doll
The important part here is that these additions aren’t isolated collectibles. Many are directly connected to the underwater setting and Pokémon Pokopia’s town-building systems, making Bubbly Basin feel like its own distinct area rather than a simple DLC item pack.
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Buoyant Blocks Change How You Build
One of Bubbly Basin’s biggest gameplay additions is the buoyant block system.
These special blocks allow players to build floating structures at different underwater levels. That means construction is no longer limited to a conventional ground-level layout.
Instead, players can take advantage of the underwater area’s vertical space and create buildings at different heights. For a game that revolves around rebuilding and customizing environments, this gives Bubbly Basin a unique building identity.
You’re essentially getting a new playground for creativity, except this time your constructions can float underwater.
New Pokémon Bring the Ocean Theme to Life
Bubbly Basin also expands the Pokémon selection available in Pokémon Pokopia.
Confirmed Pokémon include:
- Mudkip
- Popplio
- Corphish
Their aquatic identities fit naturally into Bubbly Basin’s underwater setting and water-based activities.
The expansion also adds ocean-themed furniture and outfits, along with new customization options for Ditto. So the aquatic theme doesn’t stop when you leave the new town. Players can use the new decorative and customization items to bring an ocean-inspired look into their own creations and characters.
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Watermelon Growing Adds a Fresh Farming Activity
Bubbly Basin introduces watermelon growing, giving players another activity to add to their routine.
The feature is connected to Water specialty Pokémon, continuing Pokopia’s approach of making Pokémon part of its world-building systems rather than treating them purely as creatures to collect.
It’s another example of the expansion blending Pokémon interactions with everyday activities such as growing food.
Smoothies Add Another Food Activity
The underwater expansion also introduces smoothies.
Players can engage with smoothie-making as another food-related activity while exploring Bubbly Basin. It fits into the expansion’s wider focus on food, water and ocean-themed activities, giving the new town another system to interact with beyond construction and decoration.
Bubble Machines and Streetlights Actually Do Something
Not every new town item is purely cosmetic.
Bubble machines and streetlights can generate specialty Pokémon, giving these objects a gameplay purpose alongside their decorative role.
That means players can place them around Bubbly Basin as part of their town design while also using them within the Pokémon-generation mechanics associated with the new area.
So, decorating the town can directly influence the Pokémon that appear there.
More Building & Creative News: Community-driven overhauls and creative shake-ups aren’t unique to Pokopia either. For more, read our story on Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4’s Override update.
Sharpedo Has a Submarine-Style Secret Base Room
One of the expansion’s most unusual additions is a Sharpedo submarine-style room.
The room takes inspiration from the idea of a Pokémon secret base and gives players another specialized space to customize. It combines Bubbly Basin’s underwater identity with Pokopia’s focus on creating personalized living spaces.
For players who enjoy decorating unusual interiors, this is easily one of the expansion’s standout additions.
Surf Adds Another Way to Move Around
Bubbly Basin also introduces a Surf power-up.
Surf gives players another way to navigate and interact with the underwater environment, adding another layer to exploration after entering the new area.
Access to Bubbly Basin is tied to learning Dive, while Surf provides an additional movement option once players are exploring the new content.
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The Sea Floor Has a Mystery Waiting
Bubbly Basin isn’t completely straightforward.
There is a mysterious hole in the sea floor hidden within the underwater environment. Its presence gives explorers another point of interest beyond the ordinary building, farming and customization systems.
The details surrounding the hole are intentionally less straightforward, making it one of Bubbly Basin’s exploration mysteries.
How to Access Bubbly Basin
Buying the Expansion Pass alone doesn’t immediately unlock the underwater town. Bubbly Basin is connected to mechanics introduced through the game’s free Version 2.0.0 update, so players need to meet several requirements.
You need:
- Pokémon Pokopia + the Expansion Pass
- The game’s free Version 2.0.0 update
- The new Dive move
- Completion of the request “Raise the environment level!”
The Dive move is taught by Manaphy as part of the free update.
The “Raise the environment level!” request takes place in Bleak Beach.
Once these requirements have been completed, Bubbly Basin becomes accessible.
That distinction matters because the free update and paid expansion are separate parts of the release.
Version 2.0.0 Is Free for Every Player
The Version 2.0.0 update is free and is not part of the paid Expansion Pass.
It launched on August 5, 2026, alongside Bubbly Basin and is available to all Pokémon Pokopia players, including people who do not own the Expansion Pass.
The update introduces the Dive move, which provides the functionality required to access the underwater content.
The split looks like this:
Free Version 2.0.0 update:
- Adds Dive
- Available to every player
- Provides the underlying functionality needed for underwater exploration
Paid Bubbly Basin expansion:
- Adds the underwater town
- Adds underwater-themed furniture and outfits
- Adds new Pokémon
- Adds new activities and mechanics
- Adds the new Dream Island content
So, players don’t need to purchase the Expansion Pass simply to receive the game’s underwater-exploration functionality. The paid expansion is required for the actual Bubbly Basin content.
Expansion Pass Bonuses Give Buyers More Than the DLC
The Expansion Pass also comes with additional bonuses, with the first one available immediately.
Dynamic Ditto Print Recipes
Expansion Pass owners receive Dynamic Ditto print blocks and wallpaper recipes.
These recipes can be claimed through the Downloadable Content menu in-game and give players additional Ditto-themed decoration options.
The bonus isn’t locked behind Bubbly Basin progression, meaning players can use these recipes before entering the underwater expansion.
30 Rare Pokémetal Ingots
Expansion Pass purchasers can also receive an email containing a code for 30 rare Pokémetal ingots.
The code is redeemed through Mystery Gifts.
There are two separate deadlines to remember:
- Redeem the code by August 31, 2027
- Claim the items in-game by September 30, 2027
This bonus is separate from the Dynamic Ditto recipes.
The Future of the Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass
Bubbly Basin is only the opening chapter. The Expansion Pass continues with two more planned content drops, although Nintendo has deliberately kept much of their information under wraps for now.
That means it’s important to separate confirmed details from speculation. Here’s exactly what has been announced for Parts 2 and 3.
Part 2 Is Coming in Late 2026
Part 2 is scheduled for late 2026.
Unlike Bubbly Basin and Part 3, Part 2 will not introduce a new town.
Instead, Nintendo has confirmed that the second DLC part will focus on additional content, including:
- New features
- New furniture
- New Pokémon
- Pokémon accessories
One Pokémon has already been confirmed: Snubbull.
Nintendo has not yet revealed the full scope of Part 2, so details about its remaining Pokémon, furniture, features and accessories should not be treated as confirmed until more information is officially announced.
More information is expected later in 2026.
Part 3 Will Bring Another New Town
The third and final planned Expansion Pass content drop is scheduled for 2027.
Its biggest confirmed feature is a completely new town.
Like Bubbly Basin, Part 3 is therefore planned as a major area for players to explore and rebuild rather than simply another collection of furniture and Pokémon.
Nintendo has not yet fully revealed the town’s theme, setting or gameplay mechanics.
For now, the Expansion Pass roadmap contains two major town-focused expansions:
Part 1 — Bubbly Basin:
An underwater town that launched on August 5, 2026.
Part 3 — New Town:
Another new area coming in 2027.
Part 2 sits between them as the feature-focused DLC drop, bringing new features, furniture, Pokémon and Pokémon accessories without adding another town.
More Upcoming Releases: New content on the horizon is always worth tracking, and Pokopia isn’t the only game with fans watching the calendar. For more, check out our post on Grave Seasons’ demo status and release date.
Is the Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass Worth $34.99?
At $34.99, the Expansion Pass is a sizeable additional purchase on top of the base game.
Its value depends heavily on how much time you plan to spend with Pokémon Pokopia and how much you enjoy its building, exploration and customization systems.
Bubbly Basin gives the pass a substantial first expansion, with a completely new underwater town, new Pokémon, underwater construction mechanics, additional activities and extra customization options. The pass also covers two future DLC parts, making the purchase more than a bet on Bubbly Basin alone.
However, there’s an important catch: Parts 2 and 3 have not released yet.
Part 2 is scheduled for later in 2026, while Part 3 is scheduled for 2027. So, buying the Expansion Pass means paying for the complete planned DLC roadmap rather than receiving every advertised feature immediately.
Early reception to Bubbly Basin has been positive, particularly around the underwater town, new quality-of-life additions and expanded building possibilities. The main criticism is that $34.99 can feel expensive when judging the pass solely by the content currently available, especially before Parts 2 and 3 arrive.
For players already deeply invested in Pokémon Pokopia, the three-part structure makes the package more appealing because one purchase provides access to the entire planned DLC lineup.
More Roadmap News: Long-term content roadmaps like Pokopia’s aren’t unusual these days. Read our guide to Mistfall Hunter’s Season 1 roadmap, covering Solo Mode and what’s coming in Season 2.
Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass: Current Status
As of August 20, 2026, the Expansion Pass is well beyond its announcement stage. Its first major content drop, Bubbly Basin, is already available, while the remaining two parts are still on the roadmap.
The timeline currently stands at:
- June 9, 2026: Nintendo announces and releases the Expansion Pass; the Dynamic Ditto print bonus becomes available.
- August 5, 2026: Bubbly Basin launches alongside the free Version 2.0.0 update.
- Late 2026: Part 2 adds new features, furniture, Pokémon and Pokémon accessories.
- 2027: Part 3 introduces another new town.
There is also a packaged physical version of the Expansion Pass scheduled to launch in Korea on September 10, 2026.
However, this physical release is a case containing a download code rather than a game card. There is currently no confirmed information about a wider physical release.
For now, Bubbly Basin is the main attraction of the Expansion Pass. The underwater town, aquatic Pokémon, buoyant building blocks, new activities and customization options give players plenty to explore, while Parts 2 and 3 will ultimately determine how much value the complete $34.99 package delivers.
Disclaimer: Information in this article is accurate as of August 20, 2026, and is based on official announcements from The Pokémon Company, Nintendo, and Pokémon.com. Release dates, content details, pricing and regional availability for future Expansion Pass parts, especially Part 2 and Part 3, are subject to change. Always check the official Nintendo eShop, Pokémon.com or the in-game menu for the most up-to-date information. Pokémon Pokopia and its Expansion Pass require a Nintendo Switch 2 system. The full version of the game is required to use the DLC.
More Free Update News: Big free updates riding alongside paid content is a trend worth watching across the industry. For more, our story covers Ghost Recon Wildlands’ Last Rites update and its free upgrades.
Official Sources
- Nintendo – Play Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass paid DLC today! (Official launch announcement for Bubbly Basin – August 5, 2026)
- Pokémon.com – Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass—Part 1: Bubbly Basin is Available Today
- Pokémon.com – Dive into Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass—Part 1: Bubbly Basin
- The Pokémon Company Press Site – Launch Date and New Details Revealed for Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass—Part 1: Bubbly Basin
- Nintendo eShop – Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass (or regional eShop page)
Image Credit: The Pokémon Company / Nintendo / KOEI TECMO GAMES
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