Ecco the Dolphin: Complete brings together the original titles and a brand-new contemporary entry built for modern platforms. Check out what the collection includes and how it expands the series.
Ecco the Dolphin: Complete Brings Series Back With New Game
A "Definitive Collection"
Ecco the Dolphin: Complete was announced by A&R Atelier in a press release on April 22, 2026, bundling the original games with a new contemporary entry. The collection is being developed by the team behind the original Ecco the Dolphin games, including creator Ed Annunziata.
This "comprehensive new package" includes all versions of the original Ecco the Dolphin (1992) and Ecco: The Tides of Time (1994), covering releases from the 8-bit Master System through the 16-bit Genesis/Mega Drive era. Release window and platform availability have not been announced.
The original Ecco the Dolphin launched on the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis in 1992 and was later ported to platforms including the Master System, Game Gear, and Mega CD. Its sequel, Ecco: The Tides of Time, followed in 1994 on the same platform, with additional releases on Game Gear and Mega CD, while a Master System version was released exclusively in Brazil.
However, while the announcement states that it includes "all versions" of each game, it also specifies coverage within the 8-bit Master System and 16-bit Genesis/Mega Drive eras, suggesting that some versions—such as the Mega CD releases—may not be included. Based on currently available information, later entries like Ecco: The Dolphin: Defender of the Future—released on Dreamcast in 2000 and later ported to PlayStation 2—also do not appear to be part of the collection, and the inclusion of the spin-off Ecco Jr. has not been confirmed.
It also remains unclear how the original titles will be presented within the collection. While the press release describes the collection as a "remaster," it also refers to the classic games as "the original, immutable games from the early ’90s, preserved and freely explorable," leaving it uncertain whether players will receive direct ports, remastered versions, or a combination of both alongside the new game.
Alongside the classic titles, the package also introduces a new entry described as "a brand-new contemporary game built for the modern era," However, as of writing, its title and gameplay details have yet to be revealed.
"No one else can make this game"
Development is led by Annunziata, who returns alongside members of the original composition, art, and programming teams. According to the official announcement, the project is built by developers who worked on the original games, reuniting after more than three decades. "No one else can make this game," the press release states. It adds, "This is not an outside studio’s interpretation. This is Ecco as it was always meant to be—realized by the minds that dreamed it into existence."
The collection also features built-in speedrunning support, achievements, and leaderboards, as well as "meta quests" that span both the classic titles and the new game. Players will also be able to create custom courses using levels from across the collection and share them with others.
The announcement also invites players to visit the official Ecco the Dolphin website for early previews, updates, and community interaction with the development team. The site also features an Earth Day music player and a mini-game where players control dolphins collecting trash, though further details on how it ties into the broader event were not specified.
A Long-Awaited Return
First revealed in May 2025, Ecco the Dolphin: Complete was teased by Ed Annunziata, who told fans to "stay tuned" to the official Ecco the Dolphin website, where a countdown clock is currently set to end sometime in July 2026, as of writing.
The series, which began in 1992, later received a sequel in 1994 and a spin-off with Ecco Jr, before going dormant for years. A later revival attempt came with Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, though Annunziata was not involved. Efforts to bring the franchise back continued over the years, including an unsuccessful 2013 crowdfunding attempt and a legal settlement with Sega in 2016 that helped reopen the possibility of a new title.
In a 2019 interview with Nintendo Life, Ed Annunziata said he was not giving up on the series, stating: "When I was trying to convince Sega about Ecco the Dolphin it took me years to get them to bite. There are some challenges I need to overcome but eventually, there will be a new Ecco."
The current collection is the result of those long-running efforts, combining remastered versions of the original games with a new installment that, as described in the announcement, "extends the journey into the modern era, weaving the history of the franchise together into a single, unified experience."
Source:
Ecco The Dolphin: Complete Press Release
Ecco The Dolphin - Official Website
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