Ecco the Dolphin Reboot: New Game in Development

The creator of Ecco the Dolphin, Ed Annunziata, has exciting news for fans of the iconic, challenging action-adventure series. In a recent interview on Xbox Wire, Annunziata not only discussed his commitment to ocean conservation and his journey as a developer but also unveiled plans that have set the gaming community abuzz. He announced that he and the original team are set to remaster the beloved classics, Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time, and are also developing a new, third installment that promises to bring contemporary gameplay and stunning graphics to the series.

While there is already a third game in the series, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, released on the Dreamcast 25 years ago in 2000, Annunziata was not involved in its creation. Additionally, a planned sequel, Ecco 2: Sentinels of the Universe, meant to follow directly from Defender of the Future, was unfortunately cancelled. Fans have expressed their excitement and nostalgia, with one stating, "I just want to finally be able to enter my secret password from the end of Tides of Time. I still have it written in the codes section of the game manual," and another highlighting the series' unique narrative, "I wonder how many people know how completely bonkers the plot of the games are."

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While Annunziata didn't provide a specific release date for the new Ecco projects, a countdown on the official Ecco the Dolphin website suggests we'll be swimming with Ecco again in about a year, as it's set to expire in 8,508 hours.

The original Ecco the Dolphin game launched in 1992 on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, followed by Ecco: The Tides of Time in 1994. The series also saw educational spin-offs with Ecco Jr. and Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt in 1995. In the main series, players guide the titular dolphin through perilous underwater environments to reunite with his pod after a devastating natural disaster.

Previous remakes have had mixed reviews. The 2000 remake was described by us as, "Ecco the Dolphin is a classic from SEGA. But sometimes classics should stay in the past." Similarly, the 2007 remake received criticism in IGN's Ecco the Dolphin review, stating, "For those who have played Ecco before, there's really no reason to come back to it... If you've never played Ecco, then you may want to give it a go. It really is one of the more innovative titles of its time. But, again, that time has long passed, and Ecco's gameplay doesn't stand the test of time like Sonic's."

However, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future fared much better, earning a 7.6 score in IGN's review, with praise for its engaging story and impressive visuals, "If you thought Flipper had personality, wait until you get a load of Ecco the Dolphin. Experience amazing visuals and an engrossing story, and defend the ocean that is rightfully yours."