Last December, Sega filed trademarks for the long-dormant IP, Ecco the Dolphin. Read on to find out what this may mean for the 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, sparking fresh speculation that the beloved franchise could be making a comeback after 24 years of silence. The news became public earlier today, though the filing itself was submitted on December 27th, 2024.
Originally released in 1992, Ecco the Dolphin was developed by Hungarian studio Appaloosa Interactive (formerly known as Novotrade International) and published by Sega. The game follows Ecco, a brave bottlenose dolphin who embarks on a mission to stop an alien invasion threatening Earth’s oceans. The title spawned four sequels, with the final entry, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, launching in 2000. A rumored sequel, Ecco II: Sentinels of the Universe, was reportedly in development but ultimately canceled as the Sega Dreamcast declined in popularity.
Today, Sega remains a prominent name in the gaming industry, while Appaloosa Interactive has long since disbanded. However, key members of the original team remain active in game development, including Ecco the Dolphin’s creator, Ed Annunziata. He released Space War Arena in 2019 and, in a 2019 interview with NintendoLife, expressed hope for a future Ecco sequel: “One thing I can say is that in the future, people are playing this game. I never give up!”
As of now, no official details have been announced regarding the future of Ecco the Dolphin. However, these trademark filings hint at a possible revival. With Sega currently revitalizing a number of classic franchises—such as Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Shinobi, and Virtua Fighter—and developing new projects like Project Century and a "RPG-like" Virtua Fighter, it’s certainly possible that Ecco could soon reemerge from the depths. Stay tuned for more updates.
