"Ex-PlayStation Director Criticizes Sony for Omitting Until Dawn Writers from Movie Credits"

A former PlayStation narrative director, Kim MacAskill, has launched a petition urging the creators of the Until Dawn movie to properly credit the game's original writers. As highlighted by Eurogamer, MacAskill's petition calls on Sony to set a new standard in the gaming industry by revising the credits for the Until Dawn adaptation. She emphasizes the need for Sony to reconsider its approach to crediting intellectual property (IP) in transmedia projects.

In her petition, MacAskill expresses frustration over the lack of recognition for the game developers who dedicated years to creating the iconic game. She points out that while the film credits the director and writers, the game's creators are merely acknowledged as "based on the Sony game," without individual recognition. "They spent years breaking their brains to make something incredible, and the world DESERVES to know their names... instead… No credit. No thanks. No honor," she wrote.

Further elaborating on LinkedIn, MacAskill draws a comparison between the Until Dawn movie and HBO's adaptation of The Last of Us, which credits both the studio and Neil Druckmann as writer and director. She questions the disparity in treatment, noting that Sony executives told her that the IP she created would never be credited to her due to her salaried status, which included no royalties, control, ownership, or acknowledgment. She directly addresses Sony, highlighting the difference in how Neil Druckmann was treated compared to other creators within the company.

MacAskill also shared her experience of inquiring about the rights to her created IP, where a Sony representative acknowledged her position but stated that the company's policy was firm and not personal. Her goal was simply to be credited and potentially have some ownership for future adaptations.

The petition calls for Sony to revise its approach to IP crediting, particularly in transmedia adaptations, suggesting an executive producer credit or equivalent acknowledgment to honor the creators. MacAskill argues that recognizing creative voices is crucial for inspiring future generations and maintaining the integrity of the industry. She urges supporters to sign the petition to stand with game creators and demand the recognition they deserve in transmedia narratives.

In related news, it was reported that Until Dawn Remastered will be part of the PlayStation Plus games for May 2025, possibly as a promotional move for the Until Dawn movie, which was released just before the weekend. However, the movie received a lukewarm reception, earning a 5/10 in IGN's Until Dawn movie review, which criticized it for failing to capture the horror game's promise and instead offering a disjointed collection of horror movie tropes.