Ecco the Dolphin Trademark Filed: Sega Revival Speculated

Last December, Sega renewed trademarks for the long-dormant Ecco the Dolphin IP, igniting speculation about a potential series revival. Let's dive into what this might mean for the franchise.

Sega Revives the Ecco IP with Trademark Filing

The Return of Ecco the Dolphin?

As reported by Gematsu, Sega filed trademarks for "Ecco" and "Ecco the Dolphin" in late December 2024, sparking excitement among fans. This news, initially filed on December 27th, 2024, has only recently become public knowledge.

Originally released in 1992 by Sega and developed by the Hungarian studio Appaloosa Interactive (formerly Novotrade International), Ecco the Dolphin introduced players to Ecco, a bottlenose dolphin tasked with combating extraterrestrial threats and saving the planet. The series continued with four installments until 2000. A planned sequel to Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, tentatively titled Ecco II: Sentinels of the Universe, was unfortunately scrapped following the decline and eventual cancellation of the Sega Dreamcast.

While Sega remains a prominent game developer and publisher, Appaloosa Interactive ceased operations in the mid-2000s. However, many of its staff, including Ecco the Dolphin's creator Ed Annunziata, remain active in the 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, no concrete details regarding the future of Ecco the Dolphin have emerged. However, this trademark renewal suggests a potential addition 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, as well as new IPs such as Project Century and a new "RPG-like" Virtua Fighter experience. We'll be sure to keep you updated as more information becomes available.