Pokémon Pokopia's long-awaited Ver. 2.0.0 update is live on Nintendo Switch 2. Released on August 4–5, 2026, it delivers two things at once: a substantial free patch that every player gets automatically, and the launch of Bubbly Basin, the first part of the game's paid Expansion Pass DLC. The headline addition is the Dive move, which lets players finally explore the underwater areas hinted at since the game launched — and, remarkably, build entire towns there too.
- ▶Sources: Nintendo Life — Full Patch Notes (Aug 5, 2026) · Official Pokémon YouTube — Expansion Pass Trailer
What Is Pokémon Pokopia?
Pokémon Pokopia is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive life-simulation and town-building game in the Pokémon universe. Players use Pokémon moves to gather materials, construct homes and businesses, and attract Pokémon companions to a growing settlement. Think of it as The Pokémon Company's answer to Animal Crossing: New Horizons, with a stronger emphasis on cooperative building mechanics and move-based gameplay. The game launched alongside the Switch 2 and has received steady free updates since then; Ver. 2.0.0 is by far the most substantial.
Bubbly Basin: The First Paid DLC
Bubbly Basin is Part 1 of the Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass, available separately on the Nintendo eShop. It opens an entirely new underwater town — the first location in the game not on dry land — reachable via the new Dive move. The DLC introduces:
- ▶A brand-new underwater town to discover and develop
- ▶New furniture, outfits, and Pokémon friends exclusive to the basin
- ▶Architecture designed specifically for underwater placement
Parts 2 and 3 of the Expansion Pass are confirmed but have no release dates yet.
Free Update: Everything in Ver. 2.0.0
The free update that comes alongside Bubbly Basin is substantial on its own. Below is the full rundown from Nintendo's official support page.
New Features Added
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Dive move | Move freely underwater — the first time the game opens the seafloor to exploration |
| Underwater building | The Build specialty now works underwater, enabling full town construction below the surface |
| New items | Portal pod and safe added; recipes purchasable after increasing Palette Town's environment level |
| Dynamic Ditto print | New pattern obtained by talking to Smearguru after acquiring the diploma |
| New emotes | Lie Down and Ready, Set, Go! — obtainable in Bleak Beach and Dream Islands |
| Five new hair colors | Orange, light pink, yellow-green, blue-green, and brown |
| Bulk item transfer | Move items in batches between the storage box and bag |
| Item deletion | Delete items placed inside objects such as the garbage bin |
| Fine-tune depth placement | Precise depth adjustment when placing windows, doors, and similar items |
| Magnet Rise setting | New option to hide the cancellation confirmation message |
| Move while wheel is open | Movement now possible while the move wheel is displayed |
| Motion-sickness settings | New camera options to reduce motion sickness |
| Paintable items | Stylish stool, handrail, metal chain, workbench, vending machine, bike, bookcase, Pokémon Center counter, arrow sign, rope can now all be painted |
Improvements
Several systems received meaningful quality-of-life upgrades in this patch.
Habitat and Pokémon behavior:
- ▶Pokémon displaced by a destroyed habitat will return if the same habitat is rebuilt nearby
- ▶Pokémon saddened by removed furniture will now notice sooner when the same furniture is replaced
- ▶Pokémon that taught you an emote will now mirror it back when you use it
Navigation and Pokédex:
- ▶If a Pokémon being tracked in the Pokédex is in another town, you can now travel there directly via Return Home
- ▶All tab added to both the Pokédex and Habitat Dex
Move improvements:
- ▶Pokémon companions now follow you while using Surf, Glide, Rollout, and Magnet Rise
- ▶Inhaling items and opening the bag are now possible while rolling with Rollout
- ▶Rollout can now break large boulders and certain natural objects
- ▶Surf can be activated on land by pressing the Surf button while holding the Focus button
- ▶Surf and Waterfall activation conditions improved for smoother use
- ▶Leafage can revert farm soil to a normal soil block
- ▶Strength can now be used underwater
Building and crafting:
- ▶Generator placement limit increased from 64 to 128 (excludes furnaces)
- ▶Photos displayed in a town increased from 10 to 40
- ▶Lost relic appraisals can now be batched up to 10 at once
- ▶Paint, Gather Honey, and Collect can be performed multiple times per interaction
- ▶During crafting, materials in the adjacent storage box are consumed before bag materials
- ▶Items can now be placed on top of square plants
- ▶Smearguru can now learn patterns from photos stored in References
- ▶Improved paint balloon targeting visibility
- ▶Messaging improved when 3D Printer has insufficient materials
Liquid and water:
- ▶Short-press of the move button holds liquid in Ditto's mouth without removing it from the environment
- ▶Released stored water now automatically matches nearby water levels
Miscellaneous QoL:
- ▶Reduced ordinary conversation indicators so special Pokémon conversations stand out more clearly
- ▶Dowsing Machine treasure on Dream Islands increased
- ▶Hide-and-sneak can now be canceled midway
- ▶Certain roof items now block water
- ▶Increased eave crafting output to 1
Before and After: Key Limits That Changed
| Setting | Before 2.0.0 | After 2.0.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Power generator placement limit | 64 | 128 |
| Photos displayed per town | 10 | 40 |
| Relic appraisal batch size | 1 | Up to 10 |
| Underwater exploration | Not available | Available via Dive |
| Underwater building | Not available | Available |
| Paintable items | Previous set | +10 new items |
Community Reaction
The update was described as "the anticipated update" by Nintendo Life at launch, reflecting broad expectation built since Bubbly Basin was announced at Nintendo's June 2026 Direct. The underwater building angle generated particular buzz — players had been asking whether the Dive move would ever expand beyond simple exploration, and the confirmation that an entirely new aquatic town could be built answered that question definitively. The motion-sickness camera options also drew warm responses from players who had found the game's default camera uncomfortable for long sessions.
What's Next
Nintendo has confirmed Parts 2 and 3 of the Expansion Pass for later dates but has not specified when. The Ver. 2.0.0 patch notes are available in full on Nintendo's official support site. The Bubbly Basin DLC requires separate purchase as part of the Expansion Pass on the Nintendo eShop.
- ▶Full patch notes: Nintendo Life (Aug 5, 2026)
- ▶Official Expansion Pass trailer: YouTube — Official Pokémon Channel