'Pokémon Pokopia,' which opened a new chapter in the Pokémon series by focusing on stories told by Pokémon themselves, has announced a major content expansion just three months after its release. The new setting? The ocean floor.

During the Nintendo Direct held on the 9th, Nintendo announced both a free update and a paid 'Expansion Pass' for Pokémon Pokopia. This new content centers on underwater exploration and the creation of a new village beneath the sea. To facilitate this, a new 'Diving' skill will be added, allowing Metamon to create bubbles and move freely underwater.

All players will be able to experience the underwater content through the free update. This update includes the 'Diving' skill as well as the ability to plant seaweed and build structures on the ocean floor, extending Pokopia's signature village-building mechanics to the deep sea.

The Expansion Pass will introduce new Pokémon, fresh furniture, and new outfits for Metamon. The pass will be released in three waves; the first, titled 'Bubble-Bubble Underwater Village,' launches in August. The second wave, arriving in winter 2026, will introduce further new features, while the third wave, scheduled for 2027, will add yet another village.

With the Expansion Pass structured to roll out content in stages, the world of Pokopia is set to keep growing for the foreseeable future. Additionally, purchasers will receive benefits such as Poké-Metal ingots and recipes.

Pokémon Pokopia is a life-simulation sandbox game released this March by Game Freak and Koei Tecmo's Omega Force. The game follows a Metamon that has taken on a human form, learning skills from other Pokémon to restore barren lands and cultivate a home for them. It has been highly praised for its gameplay, which centers on interacting and communicating with Pokémon in a world without humans.