A former PlayStation narrative director, Kim MacAskill, is actively petitioning the creators of the Until Dawn movie to properly credit the game's original writers. As highlighted by Eurogamer, MacAskill's petition seeks to influence Sony, a major player in the gaming industry, to set a new standard for crediting in transmedia adaptations.
MacAskill voiced her concerns on the petition, stating, "I've just left Until Dawn where the film director, writers, etc, were all credited, but instead of [Sony] mentioning the leading game dev(s) who created this ICONIC game you're clearly proud of, [Sony] just wrapped it as 'based on the Sony game'. 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."
Further elaborating on LinkedIn, she questioned the disparity in crediting practices between HBO's adaptation of The Last of Us, which acknowledges both the studio Naughty Dog and its writer and director Neil Druckmann, and the treatment of the Until Dawn movie. MacAskill shared that Sony executives informed her that the intellectual property she created would never be credited to her due to her salaried employment status, lacking royalties, control, ownership, and acknowledgment.
MacAskill expressed her desire for at least an executive producer credit or equivalent acknowledgment, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the creators who have significantly contributed to the entertainment industry. She called for a broader industry change to ensure that creative voices are recognized, inspiring future creators.
In her words, "Let's advocate not only for the Until Dawn creators but for the integrity of the industry. By ensuring that creative voices are properly recognized, we can continue to inspire future generations of creators who dare to dream beyond current constraints. Sign this petition to urge Sony… and stand with all game creators… demanding well-deserved recognition in transmedia narratives."
In related news, Until Dawn Remastered is set to be part of the PlayStation Plus games for May 2025, likely as a promotional move for the Until Dawn movie. However, the movie received a lukewarm response, earning a 5/10 in IGN's Until Dawn movie review, which criticized it for failing to capture the essence of the horror game and instead offering a disappointing mix of horror-movie clichés.
