Bubbly Basin was the first part of Pokémon Pokopia's expansion pass, released in August 2026.
The paid expansion pass is planned as a three-part addition to the game. Bubbly Basin is the first installment, followed by two further parts scheduled for late 2026 and 2027. This makes the title an expansion name rather than the name of a core biome or the original game's release edition.
Bubbly Basin arrived alongside new content associated with diving, aquatic-themed Pokémon, and additional furniture. Those features build on Pokopia's existing system of creating spaces that encourage Pokémon to appear and give players more ways to explore the world.
The title can be confused with a free update because the expansion content was announced alongside a free update. However, Bubbly Basin is specifically identified as Part 1 of the paid Expansion Pass, and its release month was August 2026.