A new Ecco the Dolphin game is officially in development, alongside remasters of the original two Sega Genesis/Mega Drive titles from the 1990s. This exciting revival was confirmed by series creator Ed Annunziata in a recent interview with Xbox Wire.
The entire original development team is reuniting for these projects, with Annunziata stating, “Me and the entire original team are going to remaster the original Ecco the Dolphin and The Tides of Time games”. Following these remasters, they plan to create “a new, third game with contemporary play and GPU sensibilities”.
A countdown on the official Ecco the Dolphin website points to April 25-26, 2026 — approximately 354 days from now. While specific platforms haven’t been confirmed, the Xbox Wire interview suggests Xbox Series X|S versions are likely, with PlayStation 5 releases also probable.
This revival comes after a lengthy dormancy for the franchise. The original Ecco the Dolphin debuted in 1992, followed by The Tides of Time in 1994, with the last entry in the series (Defender of the Future) releasing 25 years ago in 2000. SEGA had previously filed trademarks for “Ecco the Dolphin” and “Ecco” in Japan on December 27, 2024, hinting at this comeback.
SEGA filed trademarks for "Ecco the Dolphin" and "Ecco" on December 27 in Japan, which were made public today.
— Gematsu (@gematsu) January 13, 2025
Ecco the Dolphin: https://t.co/GOr3oxAJeX
Ecco: https://t.co/MmQVPeybWj pic.twitter.com/HbcM6AeNiR
The original Ecco games were known for their unique underwater gameplay, atmospheric storytelling, and notably high difficulty level. This revival aligns with SEGA’s broader strategy of resurrecting classic IPs, with sequels to other fan favorites like Jet Set Radio and Crazy Taxi also in development.
