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 comeback. This article explores the implications of this development.

The Return of Ecco?

Sega filed trademarks for "Ecco" and "Ecco the Dolphin" in late December 2024, as reported by Gematsu. This news, made public recently, follows a 24-year hiatus for the series.

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. The franchise spanned four installments before 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Appaloosa Interactive is no longer active, but many of its staff, including Ecco the Dolphin's creator Ed Annunziata, remain prominent figures in the gaming industry. Annunziata, who released Space War Arena in 2019, expressed his continued 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, there's no concrete information regarding the future of Ecco the Dolphin. However, the trademark filings suggest Sega may be actively considering new projects for the franchise, adding it to their already impressive roster of revived and new IPs. In the last two years, Sega has announced a multitude of projects, including revivals of classic franchises like Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Golden Axe, Shinobi, and Virtua Fighter, as well as new IPs such as Project Century and a new "RPG-like" Virtua Fighter title. The future of Ecco remains uncertain, but the recent trademarks offer a glimmer of hope for fans.