Ecco the Dolphin reboot in works

The creator of Ecco the Dolphin has confirmed that remakes of the classic games are in development alongside a brand new third installment in the series.

In an interview published on Xbox Wire, original creator Ed Annunziata discussed ocean conservation advocacy and his game development career before dropping exciting news:

"My team and I are remastering both the original Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time. After that, we'll create a completely new third game with modern gameplay and graphics. More details coming soon," Annunziata revealed.

This technically marks the second "third installment" attempt. The Dreamcast's Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future released in 2000 without Annunziata's involvement, followed by the cancelled sequel Ecco 2: Sentinels of the Universe.

Fans expressed excitement on social media, with one recalling: "I still have my secret password from Tides of Time written in the game manual," while another commented: "Not enough people appreciate how brilliantly weird these games' plots were."

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While Annunziata didn't share specific release dates, the official Ecco the Dolphin website features a countdown timer set to expire in approximately one year (8,508 hours).

The original 1992 Sega Genesis title introduced players to Ecco's underwater adventures, followed by 1994's Tides of Time sequel. The 1995 Ecco Jr. spin-offs served as educational titles rather than main series entries.

The franchise's aquatic gameplay challenged players to navigate treacherous ocean environments after Ecco's pod gets mysteriously abducted. While 2000's remake showed promise, our review noted some classic games belong in the past, stating: "Ecco was innovative for its time, but that time has passed."

Defender of the Future received more positive reception with a 7.6 score, praised for its "amazing visuals and engrossing story" that immersed players in Ecco's aquatic world.