Pokopia players will soon have a new reason to return beneath the waves. Nintendo has officially revealed Bubbly Basin, the first paid expansion for the popular life-sim adventure, introducing a brand-new town and teasing the arrival of the Mythical Pokémon Manaphy.
Launching in August, Bubbly Basin is included in the $34.99 Expansion Pass, which will eventually contain three separate DLC releases spread across the coming years.
Manaphy Headlines the First Expansion
One of the biggest surprises from the reveal trailer is the appearance of Manaphy. The Generation 4 Mythical Water-type Pokémon appears to play an important role within the new underwater-themed area.
Pokopia’s gameplay revolves around creating habitats and summoning Pokémon to inhabit towns. While common species are relatively easy to attract, Legendary and Mythical Pokémon are considerably rarer and are often tied to story progression or special requirements.
Because of Manaphy’s aquatic origins, players may need to establish specific underwater habitats or complete special objectives before being able to recruit the beloved Mythical Pokémon. Nintendo has yet to reveal exactly how players will obtain it.
Free Update Expands Underwater Gameplay
Alongside the paid expansion, all players will receive a free update introducing a new Dive ability for Ditto.
The feature allows players to explore the ocean floor and even construct submerged buildings. This means underwater gameplay won’t be restricted exclusively to Expansion Pass owners, giving everyone additional ways to customize their settlements.
Players with existing towns surrounded by water will gain access to entirely new areas and building opportunities without needing to purchase the DLC.
More Expansions Planned Through 2027
Bubbly Basin marks only the beginning of Pokopia’s post-launch roadmap.
The second Expansion Pass release is scheduled for late 2026. Unlike the first expansion, it reportedly will not introduce an entirely new town, though Nintendo has yet to reveal additional details.
A third expansion is currently planned for 2027 and could potentially bring additional Legendary or Mythical Pokémon to the game. While nothing has been confirmed, the introduction of Manaphy establishes a precedent for future high-profile additions.
A Bigger Focus on Aquatic Content
Between the free Dive update and the arrival of Bubbly Basin, Pokopia is significantly expanding its underwater gameplay systems.
The combination of new exploration mechanics, underwater construction, and the addition of Manaphy gives players plenty of reasons to revisit their towns and suggests future DLC releases may continue introducing fan-favorite Legendary and Mythical Pokémon.
As Pokopia’s Expansion Pass unfolds over the next two years, players can likely expect even more reasons to dive back into the world they have spent countless hours building.
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