Ex-PlayStation Exec Slams Sony Over Until Dawn Writer Snub

A former PlayStation narrative director is calling for proper recognition of Until Dawn game writers in its upcoming film adaptation.

As reported by Eurogamer, Kim MacAskill has launched a petition urging Sony to "set an industry precedent by properly crediting original game creators in transmedia adaptations" rather than simply labeling the film as "based on the Sony game."

"While the film's director and writers received full credits, the talented developers who spent years crafting this iconic game got reduced to a generic attribution," MacAskill explained. "These creators deserve public recognition for their groundbreaking work."

In a detailed LinkedIn post, MacAskill contrasted Sony's approach with HBO's The Last of Us adaptation, which prominently credits Naughty Dog and creative director Neil Druckmann. "Sony executives explicitly told me salaried employees receive no creative ownership or adaptation rights," she revealed, questioning why Druckmann received different treatment.

The narrative director shared that Sony representatives characterized this as standard corporate policy: "They claimed understanding but maintained this was an immutable company-wide position - nothing personal, just business."

"My request was simple: proper credit and minimal ownership rights for adaptations," MacAskill emphasized in her petition. "An executive producer credit or equivalent acknowledgment would properly honor the creators whose visionary work transformed interactive storytelling."

She concluded with a broader call to action: "This isn't just about Until Dawn - it's about establishing ethical standards for our industry. Future creators deserve to know their contributions will be recognized when their work crosses media boundaries."

In related developments, rumors suggest Until Dawn Remastered may join PlayStation Plus in May 2025, potentially coinciding with the film's promotion. IGN's review of the adaptation awarded it 5/10, criticizing its failure to capture the game's horror essence: "The film reduces the game's innovative tension to a disappointing collection of generic horror tropes."