Sega Trademarks Ecco The Dolphin, Fueling Rumors Of The Series’ Comeback

Sega's recent trademark filings for the long-dormant Ecco the Dolphin IP have ignited speculation about a potential franchise revival. Let's delve into the details and explore what this could mean for fans.

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 excitement after a 24-year hiatus.

Originally launched in 1992 by Appaloosa Interactive (formerly Novotrade International) and published by Sega, the Ecco the Dolphin series features the eponymous bottlenose dolphin battling extraterrestrial threats. Four installments graced gaming consoles before the series went quiet in 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 discontinuation of the Sega Dreamcast.

Today, Sega remains a prominent game developer and publisher, while Appaloosa Interactive ceased operations in the mid-2000s. However, many of its former staff, including Ecco the Dolphin's creator Ed Annunziata, continue to contribute to the video game 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, concrete details regarding the future of Ecco the Dolphin remain scarce. However, this trademark filing suggests the possibility of a new entry in the series, adding to Sega's already impressive roster of projects. Over the past two years, Sega has announced 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-like" Virtua Fighter experience. The future looks bright for Sega, and the potential return of Ecco the Dolphin adds another layer of intrigue.