Ecco The Dolphin Trademark Sparks Revival Rumors

Sega has sparked excitement among fans by filing trademarks for the beloved yet long-dormant IP, Ecco the Dolphin. Read on to discover what this could signify for the future of this iconic franchise!

Sega Revives Ecco IP With Trademark

Ecco The Dolphin Returns

As reported by Gematsu, Sega filed trademarks for Ecco and Ecco the Dolphin in late December last year, igniting speculation that the series may see a revival after being inactive for 24 years. This news was made public recently, following the filing on December 27th, 2024.

Originally launched in 1992 by the Hungarian game development studio Appaloosa Interactive (formerly known as Novotrade International) and published by Sega, Ecco the Dolphin follows the adventures of Ecco, a bottlenose dolphin tasked with thwarting extraterrestrial alien threats and saving the planet. The series saw four sequels up until the year 2000. A planned sequel to Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, titled Ecco II: Sentinels of the Universe, was unfortunately canceled due to the decline and eventual discontinuation of the Sega Dreamcast.

Today, Sega is a prominent game developer and publisher, whereas Appaloosa Interactive ceased operations in the mid-2000s. However, the talent behind Ecco the Dolphin remains active in the gaming industry. Ecco's creator, Ed Annunziata, released a game called Space War Arena in 2019 and has expressed ongoing interest in developing an Ecco sequel. In a 2019 interview with NintendoLife, he stated, "One thing I can say is in the future, people are playing this game. I never give up!"

As of now, no further details have emerged regarding the future of Ecco the Dolphin. Stay tuned for more updates as we follow this story. Ecco may soon join the ranks of other classic IPs that Sega has been actively reviving and developing, such as Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Shinobi, and Virtua Fighter. Additionally, Sega is exploring new territories with projects like the enigmatic Project Century and a new "RPG-like" Virtua Fighter.