Ethan Crossfield 
New content drops are a major driver of player return in live service-style games, and Pokopia’s upcoming paid expansion is aiming straight at that momentum. The first DLC expansion, Bubbly Basin, is set to introduce a new Mythical Pokemon—Manaphy—alongside a separate free ability update for players to explore more underwater content.
Why Mythicals Matter in Pokopia’s Habitat System
Pokopia is built around meeting and interacting with a large roster of Pokemon, with encounters tied to the habitats players create. The game’s Legendary and Mythical Pokemon are positioned as some of the rarest additions in the world, and recruiting them generally takes more effort than standard Pokemon.
As a result, when Pokopia adds new Mythicals through DLC or special events, it’s not just a new entry on the list—it’s a new recruitment challenge that can reshape how players plan their habitats. The next Mythical teased for the game arrives as part of the first paid expansion, revealed in the trailer for Pokopia’s initial DLC announcement.
Bubbly Basin DLC Teases Manaphy
The Expansion Pass for Pokopia costs $34.99 and includes three paid expansions. The first expansion is scheduled to release in August and adds a brand-new town called Bubbly Basin. In the trailer for that expansion, Manaphy appears briefly, pointing to the Generation 4 Mythical Water-type as the headline Pokemon for this DLC.
The connection is easy to see: Bubbly Basin is presented as an underwater-focused location, and Manaphy’s Water typing fits the theme. While the game has already established that certain habitats can be underwater, the source information does not confirm the exact method players will use to summon or recruit Manaphy once the DLC launches. For now, August remains the key window for players to learn the specifics.
A Free Update Adds Underwater Options—Even If You Skip the Pass
Alongside the Bubbly Basin expansion, the first paid DLC release will coincide with a free update adding Dive to Ditto’s abilities. Dive is positioned as a tool that lets players explore underwater areas and even build underwater structures.
That matters for two reasons. First, it gives all Pokopia players more ways to use existing spaces, regardless of whether they purchase the Expansion Pass. Second, because some Pokemon habitats are already underwater, it’s reasonable to expect that Manaphy’s habitat mechanics may also tie into the underwater theme—though the source stops short of confirming how exactly.
What Comes Next After Manaphy
Adding Manaphy sets a clear expectation for future DLC: more Legendaries and Mythicals are likely on the way. The second paid expansion is scheduled for late 2026, but it is not expected to introduce a new town. That makes the third part of the Expansion Pass—slated for 2027—an important point of interest for players hoping the next major Mythical or Legendary arrives with a larger content change.
With no more precise dates provided beyond those windows, fans will likely have to wait for additional announcements to learn which Pokemon are planned next and whether future releases maintain the same town-and-recruitment structure.
Key points
- Pokopia’s first paid DLC expansion, Bubbly Basin, is set to release in August.
- The trailer for Bubbly Basin includes a tease of Manaphy, the Generation 4 Mythical Water-type.
- The Bubbly Basin launch also includes a free update adding Dive to Ditto’s abilities for underwater exploration and building.
- Future DLC after Manaphy is expected to continue adding Legendary/Mythical Pokemon, with the next major window in 2027.
Confirmed DLC and related updates
| Item | Type | Timing (as stated) | What it adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bubbly Basin | Paid expansion | August | A new town plus the Mythical Manaphy tease |
| Dive to Ditto | Free update | Coincides with the Bubbly Basin release | Underwater exploration and underwater structure building |
| Expansion Pass | Bundle | Price stated: $34.99 | Three paid expansions |
| Second paid expansion | Paid expansion | Late 2026 | No new town expected (details not specified) |
Expert View
Manaphy’s inclusion signals that Pokopia’s DLC strategy is tightly linked to its habitat-driven recruitment loop: new zones and new mechanics can directly change how players build and plan. The fact that the underwater Dive ability lands for free at the same time also suggests the franchise wants a broad base of players engaging with expansion-era content, which can strengthen community momentum even among those who don’t buy the Expansion Pass immediately.
