Ecco the Dolphin Returns: Sega’s Iconic Series Revived After 20+ Years!

For many years, Sega has built up an extensive library of cherished franchises that span over several decades. However, in recent times, the company has primarily relied on Sonic the Hedgehog, Like a Dragon, and Persona. This has left numerous other properties untouched. Lately, though, Sega appears to be changing direction, unveiling fresh installments of series such as Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, and Shinobi. It seems this revival trend is continuing, as one more long-dormant Sega franchise – Ecco the Dolphin – is set to return on contemporary gaming platforms.

On the Xbox official site, Ed Annunziata, creator of Ecco, took part in a brief conversation. During this chat, he delved into the history of the series and its focus on environmental conservation and preservation. To end the discussion, he dropped a hint about his upcoming projects, which involve revamping the original Genesis games and creating a fresh installment for the series.

As a passionate gamer, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news: Your favorite underwater adventurer is making a splash once again! The original crew and I are diving back into the past to refresh the classics – Ecco the Dolphin and Tides of Time. But that’s not all! We’re also crafting an entirely new journey for our beloved dolphin, tailored to modern gameplay and graphics standards. So, keep your fins crossed and check eccothedolphin.com regularly for updates!

Currently, the Ecco website primarily features a countdown timer, leaving very little else. At the moment, the timer stands at approximately 8,528 hours, translating to around 355 days. This suggests that we might have a considerable wait for the upcoming game (or remaster), though we’re unsure of the exact event it’s counting down to. Despite being anticipated news, this development isn’t entirely unexpected, as Sega recently submitted new trademark applications for the series in Japan earlier this year. Nevertheless, this confirmation is surely appreciated by fans eagerly anticipating new content related to the series.

It might be unexpected for some Ecco series enthusiasts that Annunziata could rejoin the franchise again. Over a decade past, the creator of the series filed a lawsuit against Sega regarding the rights to Ecco the Dolphin. This legal dispute was resolved in 2016 without any public announcement. Since then, several remakes of the original Ecco the Dolphin Genesis games have been released, such as through the Sega Genesis Classics collection and Nintendo Switch Online. These events imply that Sega still owns the rights to the game, while keeping a cooperative relationship with Annunziata.

Now that ownership problems appear to be behind us and the original creators are back on the project, it’s exciting to wonder about Ecco the Dolphin’s future. Given the debate around the difficulty of the originals, it’s possible that remastered versions might adjust the challenge level, making the game more accessible for new players. For now, all we can do is stay hopeful and see what Sega and Ed Annunziata reveal next.

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2025-05-05 23:17