Sony to direct Mouthwashing video game adaptation; PlayStation drops discs by 2028

Karyn Kusama to direct Mouthwashing adaptation

Sony has hired director Karyn Kusama to helm the film adaptation of the video game Mouthwashing. The project, produced by Scott Derrickson, features a script by Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay. The story follows five crew members of the space freighter Tulpar, who crash-land on an asteroid and grapple with dwindling supplies and escalating paranoia as their relationships fracture under pressure.

The adaptation adds to Sony’s growing portfolio of video game-based films and series, a strategy the company has expanded in recent years. Kusama, known for her work in horror and thriller genres, is expected to bring a distinct visual style to the project, which aligns with the game’s atmospheric and suspense-driven narrative.

PlayStation to drop disc-based games by 2028

Sony will discontinue disc-based PlayStation games starting in 2028, ending the console’s long-standing support for physical media. The company’s final 4K Blu-ray player, the UBP-X700/K, will also be its last hardware release in this category. This decision accelerates Sony’s transition to a digital-only ecosystem, reflecting broader industry trends toward cloud-based gaming and streaming.

The move marks the end of PlayStation’s legacy as a multi-media hub, a role it has played since the PlayStation 2’s integration of DVD playback. However, the shift also aligns with consumer behavior, which has increasingly favored digital downloads and subscriptions over physical discs.

Pricing for PlayStation hardware has risen significantly since launch. The disc drive-equipped PS5 now retails for $649, a 30% increase over its original price, while the PS5 Pro has jumped from $699 at launch in November 2024 to $899 as of October 2026. Third-party sellers on platforms like Amazon have listed used PS5 Pro units for as much as $1,449, raising questions about the console’s value proposition.

PS5 Pro’s hardware upgrades and pricing challenges

The PlayStation 5 Pro, released in November 2024, has seen its price increase from $699 to $899 by October 2026. The console’s hardware upgrades over the standard PS5 are modest: its CPU delivers only a 10% performance boost, while its GPU offers a 45% improvement in compute power and polygon-pushing capabilities.

Sony is introducing AI upscaling, called Quick Spectral Super Resolution (QSSR), to the base PS5, narrowing the performance gap between the two models. The disc drive-equipped PS5 now includes 1TB of storage, up from 825GB at launch, but its bulky design remains a point of criticism among users.

The rising costs and incremental upgrades have sparked debates about the PS5 Pro’s value, particularly as the industry shifts toward digital-only distribution. This trend may influence consumer preferences and pricing strategies for future hardware releases.

Other casting and project updates in entertainment

A24’s raunchy comedy Goblin, featuring Kenneth Branagh’s voice, has added actor Chase Sui Wonders to its cast. The film blends humor and fantasy, positioning itself as a mix of Ted and E.T.

Alliance Media Partners has acquired the rights to Modem, a techno-horror film directed by Tim James Brown. The acquisition reflects growing interest in horror projects with technological themes.

Apple TV and Legendary Television are in discussions for a third season of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, with plans for a creative overhaul. The season may introduce new Titans from Legendary’s Monsterverse and could exclude characters from earlier seasons, signaling a significant pivot in the show’s direction.

Sony’s Klara and the Sun underperforms at box office

Taika Waititi’s film Klara and the Sun has grossed just $1.7 million at the box office, far below expectations. The film received mixed-to-negative critical reviews, prompting Sony to scale back its theatrical release and cancel its launch in Spain entirely.

Waititi, known for his acclaimed works like Jojo Rabbit and Thor: Love and Thunder, dismissed the criticism, stating he has not read reviews aimed at him or his peers in nearly 15 years. He emphasized prioritizing audience reception over critical opinion, a stance that has sparked both support and skepticism within the industry.

Klara and the Sun holds a 74% audience score, suggesting a disconnect between critical and viewer reactions. The film’s struggles highlight the risks of adapting ambitious, niche projects for mainstream audiences.

Privacy risks of built-in smart TV cameras

Most modern smart TVs no longer include built-in cameras due to privacy concerns and limited consumer demand. Sony and Samsung are among the few manufacturers that have experimented with the feature, such as Sony’s Bravia Cam and Samsung’s older F-series sets.

Built-in cameras, where present, can be identified by checking the TV’s specifications for the term "camera" or inspecting the frame for a lens or retractable mechanism. Privacy risks persist even when the camera is disabled, as smart TVs remain connected to the internet and may collect data through microphones or automatic content recognition (ACR).

Users can mitigate risks by using physical coverings for cameras, disconnecting them entirely, or managing software permissions. However, current privacy protections rely primarily on the FTC Act and manufacturer assurances, as newer regulations remain pending.

What this means

Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

Sony’s latest moves reflect two major shifts in the entertainment and gaming industries. First, the phase-out of disc-based PlayStation games by 2028 accelerates the industry’s pivot toward digital distribution, a trend that has been building for years. For founders and operators in gaming and digital media, this signals a need to prioritize cloud infrastructure, subscription models, and direct-to-consumer strategies. The rising costs of PlayStation hardware, coupled with modest performance upgrades, may also push consumers toward alternative platforms or reshape expectations around console pricing and value.

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