Sega's recent trademark filings for the long-dormant Ecco the Dolphin IP have ignited speculation of a potential franchise revival. This follows a December 2024 trademark application, as reported by Gematsu.
The Return of Ecco?
The Ecco the Dolphin series, originally launched in 1992 by Appaloosa Interactive (formerly Novotrade International) and published by Sega, captivated players with its unique premise: a bottlenose dolphin, Ecco, combating extraterrestrial threats. Four installments graced gaming consoles before the series went quiet in 2000. A planned sequel, Ecco II: Sentinels of the Universe, was reportedly shelved following the decline of the Sega Dreamcast.
While Appaloosa Interactive is no longer active, many of its staff, including Ecco the Dolphin's creator Ed Annunziata, remain prominent in the gaming industry. Annunziata's continued enthusiasm for a potential sequel, as expressed in a 2019 interview with NintendoLife ("One thing I can say is in the future, people are playing this game. I never give up!"), adds further fuel to the speculation.
Currently, concrete details regarding the future of Ecco the Dolphin remain scarce. However, the trademark filings suggest Sega's interest in the IP, adding it to their growing roster of projects. Recent years have seen Sega announce numerous titles, including revivals of classic franchises like Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Shinobi, and Virtua Fighter, alongside new IPs such as Project Century and a new RPG-style Virtua Fighter. The future of Ecco remains uncertain, but the possibility of a return is certainly intriguing.
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