Over the course of nine generations, certain moves have remained a staple in the mainline Pokémon games. Among them is Dive, used for underwater exploration outside of combat, and it will be at the front and centre of the upcoming expansion for Pokémon Pokopia.
Following its initial announcement during the Nintendo Direct showcase in June, The Pokémon Company has released a deep-dive gameplay video (hah) highlighting an all-new underwater region called Bubbly Basin — the central hub for the free and paid content to come. It features wide swaths of submerged land that players can access after learning the Dive ability from Manaphy, where they will meet and befriend other Water-type critters, including Popplio, Mudkip, Totodile, Corsola, Corphish, Chinchou, Lumineon, and Carvanha.
Just like in the base game, the objective here is to build underwater habitats to attract new Pokémon and restore the town. Familiar mechanics, such as growing (under-)watermelons and various crops, generating electricity, and constructing buildings, all make a return, with gathered Pokémon swimming alongside Ditto. Fresh items and furniture can also be expected, from buoyant blocks to a Sharpedo submarine base, and players will first need to complete the “Raise the Environment Level” mission in Bleak Beach and learn Jump and Surf to trigger the update.
But there’s more to be discovered in the ocean. The title’s first post-launch region introduces pitch-black underwater caves illuminated by neon coral, a Starmie doll, which unlocks a new Dream Island, fresh outfits, a power-up for Surf, new smoothie recipes, and more.
Bubbly Basin will be available as part of the free 2.0 update, but most of the underwater abilities are reserved for the paid Pokémon Pokopia expansion. Both launch on 5 August, with the former rolling out automatically for all players. The three-part Expansion Pass is priced at US$34.99 and won’t be sold separately, while the second DLC arrives later this year with new accessories for Pokémon, as teased in the clip. Part 3, scheduled for release in 2027, is set to feature another town. Those who purchase the Expansion Pass by 31 August will receive the Dynamic Ditto print recipe and 30 rare Pokémetal ingots.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
