Sony Faces Backlash Over Until Dawn Movie Credits Exclusion

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 reported by Eurogamer, MacAskill's petition targets Sony, requesting them to set a new standard in how intellectual property (IP) is credited, especially in transmedia adaptations.

MacAskill expressed her frustration on the petition, highlighting that while the movie credits the film's director and writers, it fails to acknowledge the game developers who crafted the original work. She stated, "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."

In a detailed LinkedIn post, MacAskill compared the treatment of the Until Dawn IP to HBO's adaptation of The Last of Us, which credits both the studio and Neil Druckmann as both writer and director. She questioned Sony's executives who told her that the IP she created would never be credited to her because she was salaried and had no royalties, control, or ownership. MacAskill directly addressed Sony, questioning the discrepancy in treatment between her and others like Druckmann.

She further elaborated on her desire for credit and potential ownership for adaptations, explaining that a Sony representative told her that their policy was firm and applied company-wide, despite understanding her position.

The petition calls on Sony to revise their approach to IP crediting in transmedia adaptations, suggesting an executive producer credit or equivalent acknowledgment to honor the creators. MacAskill emphasized the importance of recognizing creative voices to inspire future generations and maintain the integrity of the industry.

In other 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 newly released Until Dawn movie. However, the movie received a lukewarm reception, earning a 5/10 from IGN, with the review stating, "Until Dawn is more disappointing than deadly, leaving all the promise of the horror game behind for a jumble of horror-movie re-creations."