Overview
- The announcement, made during Tuesday's Nintendo Direct, set an August 2026 date for a free update that adds the Dive move so players can explore and build on the ocean floor.
- Nintendo made an Expansion Pass available for purchase on June 9 that bundles three paid content waves and cannot be bought in separate parts.
- Part 1, called Bubbly Basin, will arrive in August 2026 and brings a fully underwater town with new Pokémon such as Mudkip and Corphish plus new furniture and outfits.
- Players must complete the Bleak Beach 'Raise the environment level!' request and learn the Dive move from the free update before they can access Bubbly Basin, and the base game is required to use the DLC.
- Parts 2 and 3 are scheduled for late 2026 and 2027 respectively, a roadmap that echoes past builder‑game DLC strategies and could split the player base between those who buy the bundle and those who use only the free update.