The Pokémon Company and Nintendo will release the first part of the Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass on Aug. 5, 2026 [1].
This update marks a significant expansion of the game's world, introducing paid downloadable content to extend the experience for players. The addition of new environments and creatures is intended to provide fresh gameplay experiences for the fan base [2].
The first installment of the paid DLC is titled "Bubbly Basin" [1]. This expansion introduces an underwater town and new Pokémon to the game's ecosystem [1]. The launch of Bubbly Basin will coincide with the release of the version 2.0.0 update [1].
The Expansion Pass is structured as a three-part series of content drops [3]. Across the upcoming free update and the paid DLC, a total of 16 new Pokémon are confirmed to arrive [4]. This includes the first mythical Pokémon tied to the paid expansion pass [5].
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are utilizing this tiered release strategy to maintain player engagement through both free and premium content. The Bubbly Basin update serves as the entry point for the broader Expansion Pass roadmap [2].
“Bubbly Basin introduces an underwater town and new Pokémon to the game's ecosystem.”
The introduction of a paid Expansion Pass for Pokémon Pokopia signals a shift toward a long-term live-service model for the title. By pairing a major version 2.0.0 update with premium DLC, the developers are creating a dual-track content pipeline that rewards both casual players and those willing to pay for extended gameplay.
