The creator of Ecco the Dolphin has announced that remakes of the original games are in development, along with a brand new third installment.

In a brief post on Xbox Wire, Ed Annunziata—the original creator of the celebrated and notoriously challenging action-adventure series—discussed ocean conservation, his career in game development, and concluded with this exciting news:

“The original team and I are remastering Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time. After that, we’ll create a completely new third game with modern gameplay and graphical standards. Stay tuned.”

It’s worth noting that a “third” game already exists. Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future, the last major installment, launched on the Dreamcast 25 years ago in 2000. However, Annunziata was not involved in that project. A planned sequel titled Ecco 2: Sentinels of the Universe, which continued the story of Defender of the Future, was ultimately cancelled.

“I just want to finally enter the secret password from the end of Tides of Time. I still have it written in the codes section of the game manual,” shared one fan, while another pointed out: “I wonder how many people realize how utterly bizarre the games’ plots actually are.”

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Annunziata didn’t give any further details on when we can expect to reunite with Ecco, but a countdown on the official Ecco the Dolphin website is set to end in 8,508 hours—roughly one year from now.

Ecco the Dolphin debuted in 1992 on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. Its sequel, Ecco: The Tides of Time, followed in 1994. Spin-offs Ecco Jr. and Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt released in 1995, though these were primarily educational titles designed as learning experiences.

In Ecco the Dolphin, you take on the role of the titular dolphin as his underwater home is ravaged by a violent vortex of air and water. Guide him through perilous tropical reefs and frozen polar seas to reunite him with his pod. We considered the 2000 remake decent, noting: “Ecco the Dolphin is a SEGA classic, but some classics are best left in the past.

“For returning players, there’s little incentive to revisit it,” we wrote in IGN's Ecco the Dolphin review regarding the 2007 version. “It lacks bonus content and the Achievements are underwhelming. If you’ve never played Ecco, it might be worth a try—it was truly innovative for its time. However, that time has come and gone, and Ecco’s gameplay hasn’t aged as gracefully as Sonic’s.”

The final Ecco the Dolphin title received a warmer reception, earning a 7.6 in IGN's Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future review, which stated: “If you thought Flipper had personality, just wait until you meet Ecko. Enjoy breathtaking visuals and a compelling story as you defend the ocean that belongs to you.”