Status: Confirmed. Bubbly Basin, the first part of the Pokopia Expansion Pass, launches on August 5, 2026, alongside a free base game update that everyone can download. Depending on your region, access begins the evening of August 4.
Quick answer: The DLC and the free update are expected to go live at 9am JST on August 5, which is 7pm CT on August 4. Nintendo has not published an official launch time, so treat the exact hour as expected rather than guaranteed.
Release time: August 5, 2026 at 9:00am JST (7:00pm CT on August 4)
Bubbly Basin release time by region
Most Nintendo Switch 2 releases unlock based on Japan time, so the table below converts the expected 9am JST rollout into local times. Players in North America should be able to jump in the evening of August 4, while most other regions gain access early on August 5.
| Time zone | Release time |
|---|---|
| PT | 5pm on Aug. 4 |
| CT | 7pm on Aug. 4 |
| ET | 8pm on Aug. 4 |
| BST | 1am on Aug. 5 |
| CEST | 2am on Aug. 5 |
| JST | 9am on Aug. 5 |
| AEST | 10am on Aug. 5 |
Note: An official launch time has not been shared and likely won’t be before release, so these times reflect the standard Japan-based unlock pattern. You’ll know the content is live when the update prompt appears and the new underwater area is selectable in-game.
What the paid Bubbly Basin DLC includes
Most of the new content sits behind the Expansion Pass, which costs $34.99 / £29.99 and covers all three planned parts. Bubbly Basin is Part 1, and it centers on a new underwater town with its own systems for building, gardening, and recruiting Pokémon.
- Bubbly Basin biome — a new underwater region to explore, including a hole in the sea floor that leads into a darker deep-sea area you navigate by following glowing coral.
- New Pokémon — water-type residents you can only meet here, including Mudkip, Popplio, Swampert, Crawdaunt, Marshtomp, Brionne, Staryu, Starmie, and Sharpedo, among others.
- Underwater building — special Buoyant Blocks let you construct floating structures at different levels that are only possible below the surface.
- Sharpedo submarine — build a submarine room that functions like a Secret Base.
- Watermelons — a new crop you can plant, grow, and harvest, tended with the help of Water-specialty Pokémon.
- Bubble machines and utilities — Pokémon with the Generate specialty can power bubble machines and streetlights.
- Extras — new habitats, outfits for Ditto, smoothies, and a power-up for the Surf move.
Free 2.0 update and the Dive move
You don’t need the Expansion Pass to get some of the new content. The free Ver. 2.0.0 update arrives on the same day and adds the ability to travel and build underwater in the base game’s existing water areas.
- Dive move — learned from Manaphy, this lets Ditto stay underwater and swim alongside Water-type Pokémon instead of transforming into Lapras.
- Underwater building for everyone — base game players can do limited building in the free underwater regions, even without Bubbly Basin’s exclusive tools.
To unlock Dive, complete the “Raise the environment level!” request in Bleak Beach, then learn how to Surf and how to jump. Once those steps are done, Manaphy teaches the move and the underwater areas open up.
Fetching Scales for Feebas event
A free in-game event follows shortly after the update. Fetching Scales for Feebas runs from August 13 to August 28. Like earlier events, taking part lets you unlock an exclusive Pokémon and additional rewards.
Expansion Pass roadmap: Parts 2 and 3
Bubbly Basin is only the first of three paid drops included in the single Expansion Pass purchase. The later parts are still some way out.
| Part | Window | Main content |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 — Bubbly Basin | August 5, 2026 | Underwater town, new Pokémon, underwater building |
| Part 2 | Late 2026 | Wearable accessories for Pokémon, plus more Pokémon and furniture |
| Part 3 | 2027 | A new town, additional Pokémon, furniture, and more |
If you own the Expansion Pass, Bubbly Basin should download automatically once it goes live, and the free 2.0 update applies to everyone. Keep your Switch 2 connected so the patch installs, then load your save to confirm the Dive move and the new underwater region are available.
