Originals have always been in the DNA of Orlando's event, especially its modern post-2000/Jack iteration. But it costs money to license even weird, niche IP, so the price has to be right, and a case has to be made to the folks in finance. (And - again, this one is crucial - there have to be people on the design team championing it.)
Yeah lol I get that guys, thank you. The statement I was quoting was asking whether the event was too mass market for the passion project IPs. I’m just saying because originals are still successful and still ingrained in the event as it exists today, I don’t think under-the-radar IP would be an issue if there are advocates for it on the design team. Sure, licensing and money are a whole other issue (although if the budget to license 5 is there and there are only 4 one given year moving the marketing needle, I could still see a smaller IP beating out the cost of licensing Michael Myers or Leatherface for the nth time).Pretty much what Clive said, IP's cost money in order to have them. And the more niche the property, the more they need folks in A&D to help give it a chance. If there's a niche IP that A&D isn't interested in doing, you know for certain that the higher ups who decide things aren't gonna' go for it either.
In some cases, it's better for A&D to do an original house of something as that can be an easier sell for the higher ups. And I feel the higher ups are more willing to take a risk on a niche/unique original house than an IP they have to pay licensing for.