SEGA Revives Classic Franchise: Ecco the Dolphin Returns?

Sega's recent trademark filings for the Ecco the Dolphin IP have ignited speculation about a potential franchise revival. This follows a 24-year hiatus for the beloved underwater adventure series.

The Return of Ecco?

Gematsu reported that Sega filed trademarks for "Ecco" and "Ecco the Dolphin" in late December 2024 (publicly revealed recently). This action has fueled excitement among fans.

Originally released in 1992 by Sega and developed by Appaloosa Interactive (formerly Novotrade International), the Ecco the Dolphin series features the eponymous bottlenose dolphin battling extraterrestrial threats. Four games were released before 2000. A planned sequel to Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, titled Ecco II: Sentinels of the Universe, was ultimately canceled following the decline of the Sega Dreamcast.

While Sega remains a prominent game developer and publisher, Appaloosa Interactive is now defunct. However, many of its former staff, including Ecco the Dolphin's creator Ed Annunziata, remain active in the industry. Annunziata, who released Space War Arena in 2019, expressed his continued hope for an Ecco sequel in a 2019 interview with NintendoLife, stating, "One thing I can say is in the future, people are playing this game. I never give up!"

Currently, there's no concrete information regarding the future of Ecco the Dolphin. However, the trademark filings suggest the possibility of a new entry in the series, adding to Sega's already impressive roster of projects. Over the past two years, Sega has announced numerous projects, including revivals of classic franchises like Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Shinobi, and Virtua Fighter, as well as new IPs such as Project Century and a new RPG-like Virtua Fighter title. The future of Ecco remains uncertain, but the recent developments are certainly promising for fans.