Look, we're not saying the two things are connected here, but it's certainly some funny timing! It's been discovered SEGA filed trademarks in late December for one of its classic...or should we say "legendary" IP that's now decades old.
The trademarks are for 'Ecco the Dolphin' and 'Ecco' - an action-adventure series that first surfaced on the SEGA Mega Drive / Genesis in 1992 and was developed by the team at Novotrade International (Appaloosa Interactive).
Once again, this oddly times in with a claim from Windows Central yesterday about a "legendary Japanese IP" with "decades of history" being revealed at the upcoming Xbox Developer Direct next week. Sure enough, it's led to some amusing jokes on social media.
Before we get too carried away here, new trademarks don't always result in an immediate announcement or news. SEGA also delisted multiple games and collections in the earlier half of the same month last year, so maybe it's planning another retro revival.