A former PlayStation narrative director, Kim MacAskill, has initiated a petition urging the creators of the Until Dawn movie to properly credit the game's original writers. As reported by Eurogamer, MacAskill's petition calls on Sony to set a new standard in IP crediting, particularly in transmedia adaptations.
In her petition, MacAskill expressed frustration that while the film credits its director and writers, the game developers who crafted the iconic Until Dawn game were only acknowledged with a generic "based on the Sony game" credit. She emphasized the dedication and creativity of the game developers, arguing that they deserve to be recognized by name for their contributions.
MacAskill elaborated further in a LinkedIn post, drawing a comparison between the Until Dawn movie and HBO's adaptation of The Last of Us, which credits Naughty Dog and Neil Druckmann prominently. She highlighted the disparity in how Sony treated her own intellectual property, stating that she was informed by Sony executives that she would never receive credit for her work due to her salaried status, which offered no royalties, control, ownership, or acknowledgment.
She expressed her desire for at least some level of credit and potential ownership for adaptation purposes. MacAskill's petition calls for Sony to revise its approach to IP crediting, suggesting that an executive producer credit or equivalent acknowledgment would honor the creators whose passion and vision have significantly impacted the entertainment industry.
The petition aims not only to advocate for the Until Dawn creators but also to uphold the integrity of the gaming industry, ensuring that creative voices are recognized. This recognition, she argues, will inspire future generations of creators.
In related news, Until Dawn Remastered is set to be one of the PlayStation Plus games for May 2025, potentially as a promotional tie-in to the Until Dawn movie, which was released recently. However, the movie received a lukewarm reception, earning a 5/10 rating from IGN, with the review stating that it failed to capture the essence of the horror game, instead offering a disjointed collection of horror movie tropes.
