Halloween Horror Nights 35 (UOR) - Speculation & Rumors

[mccgavin]

I'd like to think the game flopped because it's a Dead by Daylight carbon copy - because DBD has absolutely ruined licensed horror games (but I digress)

That's partially true. The Killer Klowns game was well received, and it did differentiate itself from DBD in some meaningful ways. The issue is that DBD has a strong hold over the genre, and other games that focus on a single IP have struggled to compete with DBD's cross-over of many properties.

There's a long history now of asymmetric horror games launching and falling off in a short period of time, and because of this reputation, there has been less willingness to give any new one that releases a chance. Some of these games have been really great, so its not necessarily a reflection of their quality.

 

[SeventyOne]

I just googled the history of KKFOS. The game flopped. All attempts at sequels flopped. And now it’s reported that Ryan Gosling wants to do a remake of KKFOS in 2025. We’re 5 months in 2026. Sorry but I don’t see any momentum for KKFOS.


Even if the merchandise sells, that’s not compelling enough to *waste* an IP house for it.

Each year, the Internet HHN Community adopts some random thing from the event and oversells it on social media and memes it to death and just runs it into the ground. "Meaaaaattttt" from Roanoke. "That's my gold!!!" from Lightning Gulch. Lil' Boo (who UOR still trying to milk).

The KKfOS scare-zone was that year's meme. Got Universal so excited they even green-lit a house for the IP. And I bet they think they could capture lightning in a bottle again.

So from a real world perspective, you are not wrong. But Orlando is not the real world.

 

[Brian G.]

Each year, the Internet HHN Community adopts some random thing from the event and oversells it on social media and memes it to death and just runs it into the ground. "Meaaaaattttt" from Roanoke. "That's my gold!!!" from Lightning Gulch. Lil' Boo (who UOR still trying to milk).

The KKfOS scare-zone was that year's meme. Got Universal so excited they even green-lit a house for the IP. And I bet they think they could capture lightning in a bottle again.

So from a real world perspective, you are not wrong. But Orlando is not the real world.

I think it’s a little of both tbh. While the Orlando house didn’t meet the hype of the zone, the Hollywood house was one their highest rated.

Seems like HHN caught on at just the right time for the KK nostalgia bug to hit. I don’t think it’s this giant slam dunk IP like others, but they’ve always treated it as the niche it is.

 

[WryNewsie]

I’ve been told it’s 4 of the IPs.

The IP that won’t be included is the IP that can’t use characters outside of the houses…

I think there's going to be quite a few disappointed if that's the case.

But I also find it a little curious that if that's the case, why wouldn't this have been made generic like last year's "stained glass" to be shared with Hollywood? One of the first things I noticed with the carousel is it's printed with Universal Orlando and HHN 35.

Seems odd to limit your market to one coast if you're doing shared IPs like last year......

 

[Legacy]

I think there's going to be quite a few disappointed if that's the case.

But I also find it a little curious that if that's the case, why wouldn't this have been made generic like last year's "stained glass" to be shared with Hollywood? One of the first things I noticed with the carousel is it's printed with Universal Orlando and HHN 35.

Seems odd to limit your market to one coast if you're doing shared IPs like last year......

Genuine question (because I don’t know) - How well did the stained glass sell in Hollywood? If it didn’t sell well, then you might as well double down on the coast where it did.

 

[WryNewsie]

Genuine question (because I don’t know) - How well did the stained glass sell in Hollywood? If it didn’t sell well, then you might as well double down on the coast where it did.

It's a fair point.

I don't pay a ton of attention to Hollywood, so I'm really not sure either. I want to say I remember hearing about them having similar issues with certain pieces selling out, but without knowing how inventory was allocated and sell through, it's all speculative.