Summary
- Sega has filed two new trademarks corresponding to the Ecco the Dolphin franchise.
- Ecco the Dolphin is a sci-fi action series that first debuted in 1992 for the Sega Genesis, followed by four more games up until 2000, after which it went dormant for 25 years.
- The recent trademark filing could signal a comeback for Ecco the Dolphin, adding yet another franchise to the growing list of Sega’s legacy revivals.
Sega has filed a couple of new trademarks that might suggest a revival of Ecco the Dolphin is on the way. The peculiar action-adventure series has been dormant for 25 years, but with Sega actively making efforts to bring back its classic franchises, this development has fans excited about a potential return to form for Ecco the Dolphin.
The very first Ecco the Dolphin game launched in December 1992 for the Sega Genesis and quickly became a standout title thanks to its mind-bending sci-fi premise, unique gameplay, and atmospheric underwater world. It was followed by four more entries, namely Ecco: The Tides of Time, Ecco Jr., Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt, and Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future. The latter was released in 2000 for the Sega Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 as an attempt to modernize the series. Despite the backing of a spirited fanbase, Ecco the Dolphin has lain dormant since then, leaving many to wonder if it could ever return.
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Many wagered that the chances of a series like Ecco the Dolphin returning are quite low, but with several of Sega’s classic franchises set to be revived in the near future, the possibility isn’t off the table. Interestingly, Japanese news outlet Gematsu recently spotted a pair of newly-filed Sega trademarks for Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco. These trademarks were filed on December 27, 2024, and were made public yesterday, marking the first tidbit of news surrounding Ecco the Dolphin in 25 years. Naturally, this discovery has incited speculation about Sega possibly working on a revival of Ecco the Dolphin.
Recent Sega Trademarks Possibly Allude to a New Ecco the Dolphin Game
The prospect of an Ecco the Dolphin revival isn’t too farfetched, since Sega’s trademarks often correspond to the company’s future games. For instance, people first found out about the Yakuza Wars mobile spin-off via a Sega trademark listing back in August 2024, a full three months prior to the game’s formal reveal. Therefore, there is some precedence for the new Ecco the Dolphin trademarks possibly teasing a comeback for the long-dormant franchise.
In an age where sci-fi games are thriving and plentiful, Ecco the Dolphin‘s bizarre extraterrestrial and time travel trappings could fit in perfectly, and the nostalgia around the series may benefit a future revival even further. However, there’s always the possibility that Sega might not have any plans for Ecco the Dolphin right now, and the trademark filing was simply a legal formality to retain the IP. On the other hand, the recent announcement of a new Virtua Fighter game proves that Sega has more legacy franchise revivals planned, so only time will tell if Ecco the Dolphin will foray into the modern era.
Sega
- Date Founded
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June 3, 1960
- Headquarters
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Shinagawa City, Tokyo, Japan
- CEO
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Hajime Satomi