Sega's recent trademark filings for the long-dormant Ecco the Dolphin IP have ignited speculation about a potential franchise comeback. Let's delve into what this might mean.
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, after a 24-year hiatus, suggests a possible revival.
Originally released in 1992 by Sega, with development by Appaloosa Interactive (formerly Novotrade International), the Ecco the Dolphin series captivated players with its unique blend of underwater exploration and alien-fighting gameplay. The series spanned four installments, concluding in 2000. While a fifth game, Ecco II: Sentinels of the Universe, was planned as a sequel to Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, it was ultimately canceled following the decline of the Sega Dreamcast.
Appaloosa Interactive is no longer operational, but many of its staff, including Ecco the Dolphin's creator Ed Annunziata, remain active in the gaming industry. Annunziata, in a 2019 interview with NintendoLife, expressed his continued hope for an Ecco sequel, stating, "One thing I can say is in the future, people are playing this game. I never give up!"
Currently, concrete details regarding the future of Ecco the Dolphin remain scarce. However, the trademark filings add to Sega's already impressive roster of projects. In recent years, Sega has announced numerous revivals of classic franchises (Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Shinobi, Virtua Fighter) and new IPs (Project Century, the RPG-like Virtua Fighter). The Ecco trademark strongly hints at the possibility of another addition to this growing list.
