Ecco the Dolphin

Trademark renewals don't always mean anything, but fresh registrations relating to the classic Ecco the Dolphin series have brought fans back from the dead with hopes they may be tied to a new game. Both registered on 27th December 2024 and made public yesterday, SEGA has renewed its "Ecco the Dolphin" and "Ecco" trademarks in Japan.

While it wasn't confirmed to be part of the first batch, SEGA did recently reveal its efforts to resurrect some of the older franchises in its back catalogue. Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, Golden Axe, and Streets of Rage are all on their way back, and Ecco the Dolphin is of a similar mould. While the franchise's handful of games are largely tied to the SEGA Mega Drive and Dreamcast, there was the odd port here and there to Sony systems, like Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future for PS2.

With the Xbox Developer Direct taking place next week, some fans are even putting two and two together and suggesting a new Ecco the Dolphin game is the mystery title Microsoft has to announce. That's off the back of a rumour the game in question is a new entry in a long-running Japanese franchise, though it seems unlikely to be the case. Fans thought their wish had come true a few years ago when an IGN announcement teased a new game reveal with the sounds of dolphins, but it never materialised.

Would you be interested in playing a new Ecco the Dolphin game? Swim into the comments below.

[source eurogamer.net]