Polygon has published a guide explaining how players can begin the Bubbly Basin downloadable content (DLC) in Pokémon Pokopia, a paid expansion that lets players help Ditto establish a new underwater Pokémon community. The DLC follows on from an earlier expansion set in the Withered Wasteland, and adds a fresh environment for players to explore and develop, but it can only be accessed after purchase and once several in-game prerequisites have been met.

To reach Bubbly Basin, players must first unlock Bleak Beach, rebuild its Pokémon Center, and learn Surf from Lapras, before completing the "Raise the environment level!" request by reaching environmental level five and learning the move Dive. Notably, these prerequisites can be achieved without owning the DLC itself. Once met, players speak to Popplio at the Bleak Beach Pokémon Center, who invites them to help the underwater city, then travel with Popplio to the Bubbly Basin gate on the western, underwater side of the Bleak Beach map — a location only reachable after learning Dive with Manaphy.