Ethan Crossfield 
If you’re deciding whether to jump into Pokémon Pokopia now or wait for the next batch of content, the answer is simple: Nintendo is extending the look at two major additions—and both land on August 5. A free Dive update expands what you can do underwater, while the paid Expansion Pass brings the Bubbly Basin town beneath the waves.
What’s new on August 5 (free Dive update + paid Expansion Pass Part 1)
Nintendo’s latest extended deep-dive video details Pokémon Pokopia’s upcoming free Dive update and its paid Bubbly Basin expansion, with both arriving on August 5.
The free update centers on Ditto learning a new Dive ability from Manaphy. With Dive, players can explore underwater indefinitely, which opens up new building possibilities below the surface. The update also brings water Pokémon along during underwater exploration. To access this content, players must first complete the “Raise the Environmental Level” mission in Bleak Beach and learn the moves Jump and Surf.
On the same day, the Expansion Pass adds Part 1: Bubbly Basin, a three-part paid DLC set priced at $34.99. This first portion introduces an abandoned ocean town located beneath the water. After arrival, players meet Popplio and then begin the familiar cycle of building habitats to attract Pokémon back to the submerged village.
How Bubbly Basin works: underwater construction, lighting, and a mysterious deep area
Bubbly Basin expands the building toolkit with buoyant blocks that let players construct floating houses, alongside other structures. Players can also decorate these spaces using new ocean-themed furniture.
As night falls, the expansion adds practical gameplay utility through Chinchou, which can use electricity to power light sources and other electronics—supporting deeper nighttime exploration and more flexible base setups.
One standout feature is a deeper, pitch-black area only accessible by relying on glowing coral. Nintendo teases that what players find at that depth remains unknown for now, positioning the region as a future discovery hook for Expansion Pass owners.
What comes next in the Expansion Pass, and how to claim bonus items
The video also previews what’s planned after Bubbly Basin. Part 2 of the Expansion Pass arrives later this year and adds Pokémon accessories plus a new town. Part 3 is shown on the roadmap and is scheduled for 2027, with another town as its core addition.
These DLC parts won’t be sold separately, meaning you’ll need the full Expansion Pass to access Parts 2 and 3. Purchasing the pass also includes bonus content: the Dynamic Ditto print recipe (available via the “Downloadable Content” option in the main menu) and 30 rare Pokémetal ingots.
Nintendo outlines two ways to obtain the ingots: either enter a serial code sent to the registered Nintendo Account email after purchase, or use the in-game Mystery Gifts feature. Claim timing is split—serial codes must be claimed by August 31, and redemption runs until September 30 after you receive the code.
What players should know
- Both the free Dive update and the paid Bubbly Basin expansion arrive on August 5.
- Ditto must learn Dive from Manaphy, but you’ll need to complete Bleak Beach’s “Raise the Environmental Level” mission first and learn Jump and Surf.
- Bubbly Basin is Part 1 of a three-part Expansion Pass priced at $34.99, and the parts aren’t sold separately.
- Floating houses and ocean-themed furniture are tied to the Bubbly Basin building options.
- Chinchou’s electricity can power light sources and electronics when it gets dark.
- A pitch-black deep area is accessible only using glowing coral, with the mystery of what’s inside left for players to uncover.
| Item | Type | What it adds | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dive update | Free | Underwater exploration via Ditto’s Dive, plus water Pokémon encounters and underwater building options | August 5 |
| Bubbly Basin (Part 1) | Paid (Expansion Pass) | An abandoned underwater town with new building materials, floating houses, ocean-themed furniture, and deeper coral-lit areas | August 5 |
| Expansion Pass Part 2 | Paid (Expansion Pass) | Pokémon accessories and a new town | Later this year |
| Expansion Pass Part 3 | Paid (Expansion Pass) | Another town | 2027 |
Expert View
This update strategy is easy to recommend for two different player types: if you want immediate quality-of-life expansion, the free Dive update is the headline because it changes where you can explore and build. If you’re already invested in the town-rebuilding loop, Bubbly Basin’s floating construction, Chinchou-powered electronics, and the coral-gated deep zone make Part 1 feel like more than just a new map. The main trade-off is cost and timing—Expansion Pass owners get the later parts too, but you’re committing upfront to a $34.99 bundle for content that stretches into 2027.
