Some Pokemon Pokopia Players Will Get to Play the Bubbly Basin DLC for Free

The Pokemon Company and Nintendo have revealed that fans attending PokemonXP and the Pokemon World Championships will have the chance to play Pokemon Pokopia‘s upcoming Bubbly Basin expansion for free. Pokemon Pokopia‘s first paid DLC will be divided into three parts, starting with Bubbly Basin in August 2026.

During the latest June Nintendo Direct, Pokemon Pokopia shared a trailer for its Expansion Pass and gave players a glimpse at Bubbly Basin, a new underwater ocean-themed town coming to the game in Part 1. The second part of the paid expansion will launch in late 2026 with additional features, while Part 3 will release in 2027 with yet another new town. Pokemon Pokopia‘s DLC is already available to buy on the Nintendo Store for $34.99, but some fans will be able to experience Bubbly Basin without purchasing it.

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A Pokemon Pokopia Part 1: Bubbly Basin Demo Will be Available in PokemonXP

As confirmed by the official PokemonXP registration website, Nintendo will offer attendees the opportunity to play a demo of Pokemon Pokopia‘s Bubbly Basin DLC. Fans should note that while the Bubbly Basin demo is free, a ticket must be purchased to attend PokemonXP. Pokemon Pokopia will also have its own booth, but only Nintendo has confirmed an on-site DLC experience. It is worth noting that PokemonXP is the first in-person fan convention of its kind that will be held alongside the 2026 Pokemon World Championships in San Francisco, CA, from August 28 to 30. At the Nintendo booth, fans will likely witness Pokopia‘s new Bubbly Basin Pokemon, along with new outfits and furniture.

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Aside from Pokemon Pokopia, Nintendo’s booth will also let fans play various Pokemon games on Nintendo Switch 2. On the other hand, while the developers have scheduled the release of Bubbly Basin for August, a set date has not been announced yet. If the DLC launches in late August, there’s a chance that PokemonXP attendees will be the first to play the expansion at the event.

Some of the confirmed new Pokemon coming to Pokopia with Bubbly Basin are Popplio, Corphish, and Mudkip. A brief glimpse at Manaphy in the trailer also suggests the Mythical creature’s debut. More recently, new official artwork teased that Pokemon Pokopia is adding costumes for Pokemon like Peakychu and Snubbull as part of the Expansion Pass. It is unclear if this dressing-up feature will begin with Bubbly Basin or with Parts 2 and 3, so fans will have to wait for an official confirmation in the coming months.

Click on the game with the higher OpenCritic rating.

Also in August, Pokemon Pokopia will receive a free update adding the Dive ability, letting players build underwater spaces and interact with Pokemon deep in the sea. The patch is still a few weeks away, but players can enjoy Pokemon Pokopia‘s ongoing Jirachi event in the meantime. Fans can befriend the Mythical monster and build its habitat as long as they have restored at least one nearby Pokemon Center. The event also features a temporary in-game shop with limited Jirachi-themed items available until July 8.