Ecco the Dolphin reboot in development

The creative mind behind Ecco the Dolphin has confirmed that remakes of the original games are in progress, along with an all-new "third" installment currently in development.

In a recent interview featured on Xbox Wire, Ed Annunziata—the visionary behind the notoriously challenging classic action-adventure series—shared insights on ocean conservation advocacy, his career in game development, and, most intriguingly, this surprise announcement:

"The original team and I will be remastering both Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time. After that, we’ll craft a brand-new third game with modern gameplay and [visual] design. Stay tuned."

It's worth noting that a "third" game technically already exists—Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, which launched on the Dreamcast 25 years ago in 2000. However, Annunziata was not involved in its development. A planned follow-up, Ecco 2: Sentinels of the Universe (intended as a direct sequel), was ultimately canceled.

Fans immediately reacted with excitement, with one commenting, "I finally might get to use my secret password from the end of Tides of Time—I still have it written in my game manual's code section." Another added, "Do people realize just how wild the plots of these games are?"

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Annunziata didn't share any specific release timelines, but a countdown on the official Ecco the Dolphin website suggests something major in about a year (8,508 hours remaining).

The aquatic adventure series began in 1992 with Ecco the Dolphin on Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, followed by 1994's Ecco: The Tides of Time. Spin-offs like Ecco Jr. and Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt arrived in 1995, though these leaned toward educational gameplay.

The original Ecco the Dolphin follows its titular hero as he navigates a devastated ocean after a catastrophic storm, traveling through perilous reefs and icy waters to reunite with his pod. While the 2000 remake was decent, some critics noted the series' limitations in aging gracefully. In IGN’s Ecco the Dolphin review of the 2007 remake, it was stated: "For veterans, there's little incentive to return—no extras, negligible achievements. Newcomers might appreciate its innovation, but time hasn’t been kind to its mechanics."

However, 2000’s Defender of the Future fared better, earning a 7.6 from IGN: "Ecco bursts with personality. Stunning visuals and a compelling story immerse you in an oceanic world worth defending."