The Until Dawn movie releases this week; however, it appears the original game’s writers have not been included in the film’s credits.
Former PlayStation Narrative Director Kim MacAskill has now launched a petition calling for the game’s writers—Graham Reznick, Will Byles, and Larry Fessenden—to be appropriately credited.
In the petition, MacAskill argues that doing so is not only morally right, given the writers’ contribution to the original story, but also necessary to set a precedent within the gaming and media industries, where creatives are often left uncredited in transmedia adaptations.
“When an author’s book is made into a movie, they aren’t concealed by the publisher. When TV writers have their show made into a movie, they aren’t concealed by their production house. The rules around game IP are dated, and with transmedia being more popular than ever, the rules need to be updated, starting with the credit owed to Will, Graham and Larry.”
She continues: “This issue is not exclusive to any single company, but rather pervades the entire gaming industry. It’s a discrepancy that diminishes the crucial role of creators in the expansive narrative games that continue to inspire across different media platforms. The union is powerless to effect change until there is a transformation in how credit is allocated.”
Sadly, she is correct. Previous reports on video game adaptations have noted similar omissions. One of the most prominent cases was that of composer Grant Kirkhope, who was not credited in The Super Mario Bros. Movie for creating ‘The DK Rap’, originally written for Donkey Kong 64.
To make matters worse, other licensed songs were credited to their original artists—only those originating from video games, such as Kirkhope’s, were omitted from the credits.
MacAskill has also cited The Last of Us television series as an example of a video game adaptation that did credit the original game’s writers. This may not be applicable, however, as Last of Us writer Neil Druckmann also worked on the series as both writer and director and was credited under those roles.
Until Dawn was a horror adventure game released on the PlayStation 4 in 2015. Styled as an interactive horror film, it follows a group of teenagers staying at a remote mountain cabin, only for strange creatures to emerge.
Throughout the game, players make decisions that determine who survives, with the ultimate goal of keeping as many characters alive as possible by the end. It is a highly narrative-focused game, praised for its writing and overall quality, receiving both critical and commercial acclaim.
However, the Until Dawn movie has faced criticism for altering the original plot so drastically that it feels like an entirely different work. Poor lighting and shallow character development have also been highlighted. Some have even argued that crediting the original writers may not be necessary, as the film diverges so far from their story.
As of this article, Kim MacAskill’s petition has gathered 472 verified signatures and continues to grow. Her core point remains valid: video game writers deserve credit when their stories are adapted into other media. As video games continue to deliver deeper, more cinematic narratives—stories increasingly deemed worthy of film and television adaptations—it is only fair that the original creators are acknowledged for their contributions.
Words by Alex Daud Briggs
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