Sega's recent trademark filings for the long-dormant Ecco the Dolphin IP have ignited speculation about a potential franchise comeback. Details regarding this exciting development are explored below.
The Return of Ecco?
Gematsu reported that Sega filed trademarks for "Ecco" and "Ecco the Dolphin" in late December 2024 (December 27th, to be precise), sparking renewed interest in this beloved series after a 24-year hiatus.
Originally launched in 1992 by Hungarian developer Appaloosa Interactive (formerly Novotrade International) and published by Sega, Ecco the Dolphin captivated players with its unique premise: a bottlenose dolphin, Ecco, battling extraterrestrial threats to save the planet. The series continued with four installments until 2000. While a sequel to Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, tentatively titled Ecco II: Sentinels of the Universe, was planned, it was ultimately canceled following the decline and eventual discontinuation of the Sega Dreamcast.
Appaloosa Interactive ceased operations in the mid-2000s. However, many of its staff, including Ecco the Dolphin's creator, Ed Annunziata, remain active in the gaming industry. Annunziata, who released Space War Arena in 2019, expressed his enduring 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, no concrete details regarding the future of Ecco the Dolphin have been revealed. However, the trademark filings suggest Sega is actively considering options for the IP, adding it to their growing list of projects. In the past two years, Sega has announced numerous projects, encompassing both classic franchises (Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Shinobi, Virtua Fighter) and new IPs (Project Century, the new "RPG-like" Virtua Fighter). The possibility of a new Ecco adventure certainly adds to this exciting wave of activity.
