Pokémon Pokopia has been one of the biggest games of 2026. Since its March launch, it has been a consistent presence on the charts and a word-of-mouth phenomenon. And now, announced at the June Nintendo Direct, the game is getting a full Expansion Pass. So let’s break down exactly what we know: what’s free, what’s paid, what’s in each part, and whether it’s actually worth your money.

The Free Update

Before we get into the paid content, it’s worth separating the two things announced here, because Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have been a little loose about bundling them together in the marketing.

Arriving in August 2026 alongside the first paid DLC drop, there is a completely free Version 2.0 update for every Pokopia player. The headline addition is Dive — a brand new move that Ditto can learn, which lets you explore underwater for the first time. You can plant grass on the ocean floor, build structures, and extend your town beneath the waves.

To unlock Dive, you need to have completed the request “Raise the environment level!” in Bleak Beach, and you also need to already know Surf. So it’s not unlocked from the very start — but if you’ve been putting hours into the game, you’ll almost certainly be there already.

This matters because the free update and the paid DLC are genuinely intertwined. The Dive move is free to everyone. The underwater town you build with it? That depends on whether you’ve bought the Expansion Pass.

The Expansion Pass

The Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass is a single purchase that covers three separate content drops, all of which will roll out over the next year or so. The pass went live on Nintendo eShop immediately after the Direct on 9th June, priced at $34.99 in the US and £29.99 in the UK.

Buying the pass now gets you everything as it drops — you don’t need to purchase the parts separately. It’s worth knowing upfront that when you buy today, you’re essentially pre-ordering the content. Part 1 doesn’t arrive until August, and Parts 2 and 3 come later. But there is an immediate bonus for buying early: a recipe for dynamic Ditto print blocks and wallpaper, available right away in the Downloadable Content section of the main menu. You also receive a code via email for 30 rare Pokémetal ingots — useful for crafting — though you have until August 31, 2027, to redeem it.

Part 1: Bubbly Basin — August 2026

The first paid content drop is Bubbly Basin, launching in August 2026. This is a new underwater town — a full biome beneath the sea, complete with ocean-floor environments to build in and a fresh roster of Water-type Pokémon to encounter and befriend.

The confirmed content includes new ocean-themed furniture to decorate with, new habitats to build for the Water Pokémon being added, and new outfits for Ditto’s human form.

The community reaction has been notably warm. Some players have pointed out that the base game’s water areas felt conspicuously underdeveloped — now it’s clear why. There’s evidently been a longer plan here, and that’s both encouraging and a fair criticism depending on how you look at it.

Part 2: Late 2026

Details on Part 2 are deliberately sparse. The official description notes that it will introduce additional features and crafting recipes, but no new town has been confirmed for this part. The eShop description confirms it’s focused on expanding gameplay mechanics rather than new areas.

Speculation in the community is running hot — ice biomes, jungle environments, and expanded berry/plant systems have all been floated. Nothing is confirmed. Details for Part 2 will be revealed closer to launch later this year.

Part 3: 2027

Part 3 arrives in 2027 and includes a brand-new town to explore and rebuild — making it the most substantial content drop, in terms of scope, alongside Part 1. What type of environment, which Pokémon, and what features will accompany it are entirely unknown at this stage. Given the underwater theme of Part 1, the fan theory mill is already turning about what comes next.

Is It Worth It?

Let’s be direct about the value question, because it’s the thing most people are actually asking.

At £29.99 / $34.99, the Expansion Pass costs roughly half the price of the base game. For that, you get three content drops spread across approximately 18 months. Part 1 is the most clearly defined — a new biome, new Pokémon, new furniture, new outfits. Parts 2 and 3 are, at this point, partially unknown quantities.

The bundle-only structure has drawn some legitimate criticism. You cannot buy the parts individually, which means you’re committing to everything up front without knowing what two-thirds of the content actually is.

The counter-argument — and it’s a reasonable one — is that if you’ve put serious time into Pokopia and it’s been your go-to game since March, the pure value maths hold up. If each part delivers content comparable to the Bubbly Basin reveal, that’s a substantial amount of new game for the money. And the precedent from Pokémon Sword and Shield’s Crown Tundra and Isle of Armour DLC suggests The Pokémon Company generally delivers on expansion passes.

The smarter play for anyone on the fence: the pass isn’t going anywhere, and buying before August 31, 2027, still qualifies you for the Pokémetal ingot bonus. There’s no urgency to buy on day one if you’d rather wait for details on Part 2 before committing.

The Bigger Picture

What the Expansion Pass announcement confirms is that Pokopia is being treated as a long-term live game — not a one-and-done release. The decision to drop a free Version 2.0 update alongside the paid content, rather than locking underwater traversal entirely behind a paywall, is a smart gesture of goodwill. Everyone gets to use Dive. You’re paying for the destination.

If you’re already playing, the Expansion Pass is worth serious consideration. If you’re on the fence about the base game, there’s also now a bundle option available on the eShop. Either way, Pokopia isn’t slowing down.