Ecco the Dolphin Reboot in Development

The original creator of Ecco the Dolphin has announced that both remakes of the classic games and an all-new third installment are currently in development.

During an interview featured on Xbox Wire, Ed Annunziata — the visionary behind the notoriously challenging action-adventure series — discussed ocean conservation efforts and his game development career before dropping exciting news:

"Our entire original team is working on remastering both Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time. After that, we'll create a brand-new third game with modern gameplay and graphics. More details coming soon," Annunziata revealed.

While Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future (2000) technically serves as the third main series entry, Annunziata wasn't involved in its development. A planned sequel, Ecco 2: Sentinels of the Universe, was ultimately canceled.

Fans immediately reacted to the news, with one writing: "I've been waiting decades to finally use that secret password from the Tides of Time ending — it's still scribbled in my game manual." Another commented: "I wonder how many people realize how genuinely bizarre these games' plots actually are."

10 (Unintentionally) Terrifying Games

View 11 Images

Though Annunziata didn't share specific release dates, the official Ecco the Dolphin website features a countdown clock currently showing 8,508 hours remaining — approximately one year.

The original Ecco the Dolphin debuted in 1992 for Sega Genesis, followed by 1994's The Tides of Time. While 1995 saw two educational spinoffs (Ecco Jr. series), the franchise is best remembered for its atmospheric underwater adventures.

Players control Ecco as he navigates treacherous aquatic environments after a catastrophic storm separates him from his pod. While the 2000 remake received mixed reactions, we noted in our IGN review: "Ecco remains one of gaming's most innovative classics, though its mechanics feel dated compared to enduring franchises like Sonic."

The last mainline entry, Defender of the Future, earned stronger praise with a 7.6 score in IGN's review, described as "a visually stunning underwater journey where players defend their oceanic homeland."