Pokémon Pokopia's Underwater Future: Breaking Down the Free Update and Paid DLC

The Paid Expansion Pass: A Three-Part Bundle ($34.99)

Separate from the free update, Nintendo announced a paid Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass that went on sale immediately after the Direct on June 9, 2026 . The pass is priced at $34.99 and must be purchased as a single bundle—individual parts, including the August 2026 Bubbly Basin content, will not be sold separately .

Here’s how the three parts break down:

• Part 1: Bubbly Basin (August 2026): Introduces a fully new underwater town to explore. Confirmed new Pokémon include Popplio, Corphish, and Mudkip, along with new furniture, structures, and Ditto outfits .
• Part 2 (Late 2026): Will add “additional new features,” though a specific town or theme has not been announced .
• Part 3 (2027): Will introduce another new town whose details remain unconfirmed .

Unlocking the Paid DLC: Progress Requirements

You can buy the Expansion Pass right now, but you won’t be able to play any of its content immediately. Nintendo has set a clear gate: to start Bubbly Basin or any other paid DLC, players must first complete the “Raise the environment level!” request in the Bleak Beach region and learn the Dive move from the free update .

The Key Distinction: What You Get Without Spending Money

The most important detail for the community is the clean separation of the two offerings. If you don’t buy the $34.99 Expansion Pass, you still receive the full free Version 2.0 update in August 2026 . This includes the ability to:

• Learn and use the Dive move.
• Explore the ocean floor biome.
• Build structures and decorate underwater environments.
• Integrate underwater areas into existing towns.

What you will not get without the pass is access to the new exclusive Bubbly Basin town and its associated Pokémon, furniture sets, and quests, nor any of the future towns arriving in Parts 2 and 3.

As an early purchase bonus, Nintendo is also offering 30 rare Pokémetal ingots via Mystery Gift to anyone who buys the Expansion Pass before August 31, 2027, with the code remaining valid until September 30, 2027 .

The June Direct confirmed that Pokémon Pokopia has a long roadmap stretching into 2027, but the developers have ensured that the most transformational feature—the shift to life below the waves—is available to the entire player base, no strings attached.