The mastermind behind the beloved and challenging action-adventure series, Ecco the Dolphin, Ed Annunziata, has made an exciting announcement. In an interview featured on Xbox Wire, he shared that not only are remakes of the original Ecco games in the works, but a brand new third installment is also on the horizon. Annunziata stated, "Me and the entire original team are going to remaster the original Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time games. Then we will make a new, third game with contemporary play and [graphics] sensibilities. Stay tuned."

It's worth noting that there already exists a third game in the series, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, released on the Dreamcast 25 years ago in 2000. However, Annunziata was not involved in its development. Plans for a further sequel, Ecco 2: Sentinels of the Universe, were scrapped, leaving fans eager for more Ecco adventures.

Fans have expressed their excitement and nostalgia on social media. One fan reminisced, "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," while another highlighted the quirky nature of the series, saying, "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, a countdown on the official Ecco the Dolphin website suggests that we might see these new projects in about a year, as it is set to expire in 8,508 hours.

The original Ecco the Dolphin was released in 1992 for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, followed by Ecco: The Tides of Time in 1994. The series also saw the release of educational titles Ecco Jr. and Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt in 1995. In the games, players guide Ecco through perilous underwater environments to reunite with his pod after a devastating event.

Previous remakes of Ecco the Dolphin have received mixed reviews. The 2000 remake was described as satisfactory but not particularly compelling, with IGN's Ecco the Dolphin review noting, "Ecco the Dolphin is a classic from SEGA. But sometimes classics should stay in the past... 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."

In contrast, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future was well-received, earning a 7.6 from IGN's Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future review, which praised the game's visuals and story, stating, "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."