Classic 1990s ocean adventure game Ecco the Dolphin will be getting a remaster and a new game, but it will be a while before fans get to see them. The original game was developed by Novotrade International and published by SEGA for the Sega Genesis console in 1992. The game starred a time-traveling, alien-fighting bottlenose dolphin named Ecco, and its unique setting, protagonist, and premise made it stand out as a classic.
The year of the remasters continues with the announcement that the iconic Ecco will be receiving its own remaster and a brand-new game in the series by the team that created the original game. The news was shared by the game's original creator, Ed Annunziata, in an interview with Xbox Wire, part of a larger blog post celebrating Asian and Pacifit Islander Heritage Month. A countdown Ecco the Dolphin website was also unveiled which seems to be counting down to April 26, 2026—or over 8,500 hours at the time of this writing.
Ecco The Dolphin Remaster, Sequel, And New Game Will Arrive Next Year
The Original Games' Creators Are Working On Upgrading The Series
In Ecco the Dolphin, players controlled the titular Ecco as he traveled through Earth's oceans fighting alien lifeforms that threatened the environment. Besides more ridiculous abilities like time and space travel, Ecco relied on his dolphin powers, ramming at enemies, using sonar to interact with his environment, and eating fish to heal.
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Fans of the marine mammal can expect to see the beloved character splash back into the gaming scene next year. Annunziata says that he and "the entire original team are going to Remaster the original Ecco the Dolphin and Tides of Time games," the latter referring to the 1994 sequel. The creator also promises that "a new, third game with contemporary play and GPU sensibilities." It's unclear if the countdown website is counting down to the reveal or release of the game.
Ecco The Dolphin Will Return To Spread Awareness And Love Next Year
The Game's Creator Believes Gamers Have The Power To Change The World
The game's premise may sound quite outlandish, but the idea was born out of Annunziata's ion for marine life. Speaking to Xbox Wire, the developer says he got the idea for the game thanks to his experience creating educational games for the Apple II and working on the Voyage of the Mimi TV show about whales (starring a young Ben Affleck). "Once I started learning about whales (and making games about them)," says Annunziata, "I became obsessed with the subject matter."
"When games like Ecco reach the hearts of gaming communities, that love can really make things happen in the real world."
Ecco's creator believes in the power of the average gamer to change the world thanks to their intelligence and capacity for love. He states: "I feel gamers possess a higher than average IQ than the average human." This intelligence, combined with a deep love for the world of video games, unites the community. "When games like Ecco reach the hearts of gaming communities," says Annunziata, "that love can really make things happen in the real world." More information about Ecco the Dolphin, its sequel, and the brand-new game in the series will likely be revealed soon.
Source: Xbox Wire, Ecco the Dolphin
