Pokémon Pokopia Bubbly Basin locks August 5 — Dive free update + underwater town DLC

The cozy Switch 2 life sim goes underwater. The Pokémon Company dated Expansion Pass — Part 1: Bubbly Basin for August 5, 2026 on Nintendo Switch 2, with an extended trailer showing a submerged town, Water/Generate specialty loops, buoyant build blocks, and a Sharpedo-flavored Secret Base fantasy. Same day, free Ver 2.0.0 teaches Dive (via Manaphy) so every Pokopia owner can swim even without the paid pass.

Unlock checklist (buy alone is not enough)

Official pages are blunt: purchase the Expansion Pass, finish Bleak Beach’s “Raise the environment level!” request, already know Surf and jumping, install 2.0.0, then learn Dive. Skip any step and Bubbly Basin stays locked — a FAQ goldmine for “why can’t I enter Bubbly Basin” SEO the week of launch.

Part 2 and why August matters

Part 2 (late 2026) leans into dressing up with Pokémon accessories plus more furniture and critters. August 5 is the practical spike: free Dive for the installed base, paid underwater town for Expansion Pass owners, and a Switch 2 living-room pitch that is not another $70 action RPG.

Finish Bleak Beach before you open the wallet. The coral will wait; the checklist will not.