Some Pokemon Pokopia players will get to play the Bubbly Basin DLC for free

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

During the recent June Nintendo Direct, Pokemon Pokopia shared a trailer for its Expansion Pass, giving players a look at Bubbly Basin, a new underwater ocean-themed city 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 be released in 2027 with yet another new city. Pokemon Pokopia's DLC is already available for purchase 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 site, Nintendo will offer participants 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 participate in PokemonXP. Pokemon Pokopia will also have its own booth, but only Nintendo has confirmed an on-site DLC experience. It's worth noting that PokemonXP is the first in-person fan convention of its kind that will be held alongside the 2026 Pokemon World Cup in San Francisco, California from August 28 to 30. At Nintendo's booth, fans will likely witness Pokopias new Bubbly Basin Pokémon, along with new clothing and furniture.

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Apart from Pokemon PokopiaNintendo's booth will also let fans play differently Pokémon game on Nintendo Switch 2. On the other hand, while the developers have planned 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 PokemonXP attendees will be the first to play the expansion at the event.

Some of the confirmed new Pokemon to arrive Pokopia with Bubbly Basin are Popplio, Corphish and Mudkip. A brief glimpse of Manaphy in the trailer also hints at the mythical creature's debut. Recently, new official artwork teased it Pokemon Pokopia adds costumes for Pokemon like Peakychu and Snubbull as part of the Expansion Pass. It's unclear if this dress-up feature will start with Bubbly Basin or with parts 2 and 3, so fans will have to wait for an official confirmation in the coming months.

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Also in August, Pokemon Pokopia will receive a free update that adds the Dive ability, which allows players to build underwater spaces and interact with Pokémon deep in the ocean. The patch is still a few weeks away, but players can enjoy Pokemon Pokopias 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 store with limited Jirachi-themed items available until July 8.