Former PlayStation Director Petitions to Credit Video Game Writers in Until Dawn Movie
- Sagar Mankar
- 11 hours ago
- 2 min read
Kim MacAskill, a former PlayStation narrative director, has launched a petition urging Sony to properly credit the original creators of Until Dawn in the newly released movie adaptation, which premiered on April 25.
The petition was sparked after MacAskill noticed that while the film’s credits mention it is “based on the Sony game,” no individual developers from the original 2015 title were acknowledged.
Lack of Developer Recognition Sparks Outcry
In her statement on LinkedIn, MacAskill expressed frustration over the omission:
"I've just left Until Dawn where the film director, writers, etc. were all credited, but instead of mentioning the leading game developers who created this iconic game you're clearly proud of, Sony just wrapped it as 'based on the Sony game.'"
She calls on Sony to revise their approach to IP crediting, especially when adapting video games into other media.
MacAskill suggests that an executive producer credit or a similar acknowledgment would better honor the creators whose original storytelling laid the foundation for the movie. "They spent years breaking their brains to make something incredible and the world DESERVES to know their names... instead," Kim added.
Original game writers Larry Fessenden and Graham Reznick also commented on the situation to The Hollywood Reporter, saying they were disappointed but not surprised:
"I didn't assume anything, but I thought somebody would have bothered to throw in our names, even during the end credits, But there's no courtesy in show biz."
Fessenden and Reznick were responsible for crafting the game's characters, dialogue, and multiple branching storylines. Their work on Until Dawn even earned them a Guinness World Record for the "Longest Script for a Graphic Adventure Video Game," with approximately 10,000 pages written during development.
At the time of writing, MacAskill’s petition has gathered over 250 signatures, with support growing steadily.
The situation reflects a larger concern in the entertainment industry as video game adaptations become more common — yet game creators often don't receive the same level of recognition that comic book writers and artists do in film adaptations.
The Until Dawn movie itself departs significantly from the original game's storyline, featuring new characters and a new narrative.
Meanwhile, a remastered version of Until Dawn is rumored to be arriving on PlayStation Plus in May 2025, likely timed to boost interest alongside the film.