Gameloft has lastly introduced DDV’s latest DLC, and we’re past hyped. First revealed throughout this yr’s D23 occasion, Disney Dreamlight Valley’s The Memento Sea is the subsequent main growth since 2025’s whimsical Wishblossom Ranch, with the latest Honeyglow Woods Journey Pack appearing as a a lot smaller (however nonetheless great) bridge between the 2.
Your new journey begins with you discovering a mysterious statue within the water with a message informing you that an outdated buddy is misplaced and stranded. To assist them, you may should enterprise past the coast of Dreamlight Valley, reworking right into a mermaid to discover the depths beneath and uncover treasures of a long-forgotten previous.
You learn that proper – this new growth permits you to reside out your wildest underwater goals as you shapeshift right into a magical merfolk. With this capacity, you’ll be able to freely swim each above and beneath water, whereas additionally making use of particular perks reminiscent of gathering underwater crafting supplies or catching fish instantly from fishing spots with out having to whip out your rod.
Naturally, your new mermaid type can also be absolutely customizable, and we’re not simply speaking in regards to the huge array of recent oceanic outfits and deep sea kinds. Throughout our time at Gamescom 2026, we had been fortunate sufficient to sit down down for a chat with Lead Narrative Designer Riley Wignall, who informed us, “not solely will you be capable of customise your tail, however you even have numerous totally different fins, torsos, ear cosmetics, [and] arm cosmetics. We actually need gamers to have the ability to mess around and specific themselves as a lot as doable to reside their finest mermaid life.”
However don’t be concerned if fantastical fins aren’t actually your vibe, as it isn’t simply merfolk who spend all their time at sea. As Riley highlights, “if folks aren’t drawn in by the mermaid fantasy, perhaps they wish to be a pirate with their pirate fantasy, and there is simply no higher pirate to try this than Jack Sparrow”.
Jack Sparrow could also be a little bit of a shock if you happen to’re conversant in Disney Dreamlight Valley, as he occurs to be the primary live-action character to reach within the Valley. Nonetheless, Riley states that “whether or not or not the character is live-action wasn’t actually a difficulty for us”. When selecting which characters get added to the sport, she explains, “we do a whole lot of listening to our neighborhood and attempting to take heed to who speaks to them and who they’re going to be involved in seeing.” Within the case of Jack Sparrow, it appears the choice was largely based mostly on balancing the entire mermaid magic and “giving our gamers choices.”
In fact, it isn’t simply Jack Sparrow arriving alongside this growth, both. As proven within the full announcement trailer beneath, you too can count on to fulfill the self-sufficient ‘damsel in misery’ herself, Hercules’ Megara. After the latest Heroes’ Path Disney Dreamlight Valley replace, we anticipated her arrival, however we’re nonetheless tremendous glad to lastly see her in-game. Nonetheless, the opposite recent face is way more sudden.
Sure, we had been simply as (pleasantly) shocked as you once we noticed Milo from Atlantis pop up. However, as Riley factors out, there’s water and treasure to be discovered, which makes him “a pure match”. She goes on to say, “there’s a whole lot of thought put into who we put in and why, and it is based mostly on what the neighborhood desires, what we expect suits with the story, and who we expect might make the perfect model of this growth.” No complaints right here, it is nice to see Atlantis lastly get some recognition!
Just like the earlier expansions, The Memento Sea introduces a model new map made up of three island biomes and new underwater worlds. Identical to above-water areas, these deep-sea settings are absolutely customizable, permitting for tons of adorning choices. On high of this, you too can dock your ship on the piers of Shipwreck Shores. This intriguing pirate bay is hiding loads of its personal secrets and techniques, too, together with a mysterious fortress space so that you can uncover.
Whereas we do not know an excessive amount of in regards to the narrative right here, we’re tremendous keen to search out out extra. In spite of everything, the tales on the coronary heart of Disney Dreamlight Valley have at all times been very particular, dealing with a wide range of very actual and relatable themes in such a magical approach. In fact, The Forgotten’s arc is a main instance of this, and one which resonated with many gamers from all walks of life.
Throughout our chat with Riley, we could not assist however deliver up this emotional story. On the subject, she informed us that “the neighborhood response to that storyline was truly unimaginable, and I feel it is as a result of, though it’s darkish and it may be a bit heavier, it resonates with a really human expertise”. She defined that the very coronary heart of Disney Dreamlight Valley is all about “getting again in contact with the issues that you just liked in childhood. […] Attending to these elements that had been forgotten or uncared for, and letting your self love them once more – letting your self rejoice all these issues which you could nonetheless have as an grownup, and welcom[ing] that magic again into folks.”
She went on to say that “a part of the large story of The Memento Sea is about rediscovering the sense of journey that we [sometimes] lose as a toddler”. Truthfully, we will not argue with that – who did not dream of turning into a mermaid or crusing the seven seas with a band of pirates as a child? In actual fact, many people nonetheless do.
Whereas we do not have a Disney Dreamlight Valley: The Memento Sea launch date simply but, Gameloft has confirmed that will probably be holding a showcase stream on October 21, 2026, throughout which we’ll get a “deeper take a look at the characters, biomes, options, and adventures coming to The Memento Sea”, so you’ll want to regulate the official Disney Dreamlight Valley YouTube channel when that drops.
