Cameron J Keywood, Author at Thumb Culture

19Aug

By Cameron J KeywoodNo Comments

Mafia: The Old Country – PS5 Review

The Mafia series has quietly built itself into one of gaming’s best crime sagas by rolling steadily through the decades. It kicked off in the 1930s, cruised through the ’40s and ’50s, then shook things up in the ’60s. Fans naturally expected the story to move forward. Instead, Hangar 13 drags us back to the roots with Mafia: The Old Country, a linear, story-driven trip to early 1900s Sicily. It launched worldwide on 15th August 2025 and is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. This review covers the PS5 version, priced at around £54.99. So, does it sit solid like a family olive tree, or snap like a twig under a horse’s hoof? Miniere Alle Spalle, Mafia Davanti Mafia: The Old Country dives straight into the dirt. In 1904, young Enzo Favara escapes from the backbre...

RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business – PS5 Review

22Jul

By Cameron J KeywoodNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business – PS5 Review

RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business is a standalone expansion to the sleeper hit RoboCop: Rogue City — and if you missed that one, you can check out our review right here. French publisher Nacon and Polish developer Teyon team up once again, picking up right after the events of the aforementioned game. The expansion launched worldwide on 17th July 2025 and is out now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. This review covers the PS5 version, priced at £24.99 / $29.99. So, does it deliver high-octane justice, or should we toss it on the scrap heap? Gunplay and Gunmetal: RoboCop Returns in Style Unfinished Business wastes no time in getting to the action as Mercenaries have destroyed the police precinct and stolen RoboCop’s chair, the final piece needed to control OCP’s sys...

Access-Ability Summer Showcase 2025 Roundup

10Jun

By Cameron J KeywoodNo Comments

Accessibility In Gaming, Features

Access-Ability Summer Showcase 2025 Roundup

Laura Kate Dale is a prominent voice in the games industry and a full-time video game critic who focuses on accessibility and representation in video games. She hosted the 2025 edition of the Access-Ability Summer Showcase—a celebration of accessibility and representation in gaming. Sponsored by Many Cats Studios, the event once again celebrated developers who build inclusive games for all players. True to its name, the showcase offers high accessibility. Multiple formats were available, including versions with American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL), and a fully audio-described edition voiced by accessibility consultant SightlessKombat. For anyone interested in how far accessibility in games has come—and where it’s headed—the full showcase is well worth watching. ...

6Jun

By Cameron J KeywoodNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

F1 25 – PS5 Review

F1 25 left the paddock on the 30th May, I previewed the game, which you can read here, and I was fortunate enough to receive a code for the Iconic Edition with all the assorted extra content. This review focuses on the PlayStation 5 version of the annual racing series. So, the big question: Has Codemasters delivered a podium finish, or has it crashed into the barrier? Pitt Stop The game includes all the modes you know and love, plus some extra Hollywood action. Tied in with the upcoming movie, you can play scenarios from the film — these unlock on June 30th, five days after the film’s UK release. The characters are available to use in other modes; it was very strange seeing Tyler Durden/Benjamin Button/Jesse James walking around the paddock. The Hollywood like drama doesn’t stop with ...

Codemasters Aim For Big Improvements In F1 25

27May

By Cameron J KeywoodNo Comments

News & Updates

Codemasters Aim For Big Improvements In F1 25

F1 25 is gearing up to be a turning point for the series. Codemasters has left last-gen consoles in the rearview mirror and shifted full focus to current-gen, unlocking tighter handling, smarter progression systems, and the polish the franchise has long needed. Launching 30th May 2025 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, F1 25 aims to deliver the most authentic Formula 1 experience yet. Here’s everything you need to know before lights out. Real Grip, Real Risk Codemasters is doubling down on realism with the upgraded EA SPORTS Dynamic Handling System. Building on last year’s physics revamp, F1 25 claims to offer even more precise grip modelling, weight transfer, and throttle response across dry and wet conditions. Car behaviour now aims to reflect the real-life 2025 technical regulati...

22May

By Cameron J KeywoodNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

American Arcadia – PS5 Review

American Arcadia marks the latest release from Out of the Blue Games, the studio behind Call of the Sea (you can check out our review of that here). After launching on PC in 2023, the game has now made its way to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and Xbox One courtesy of publisher Raw Fury. This review focuses on the PlayStation 5 version. So, the big question: have Out of the Blue Games delivered another smash hit, or should it have come with a warning? It Can't be Tru(man) Set in a retro-futuristic 1970s metropolis, American Arcadia drops you into the brown leather shoes of Trevor Hills — a painfully average office worker voiced by the ever-talented Yuri Lowenthal (you’ll know him from Marvel's Spider-Man). Trevor soon realises his entire life has played out as part of ...

Revenge of The Savage Planet – PS5 Review

14May

By Cameron J KeywoodNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Revenge of The Savage Planet – PS5 Review

Revenge of the Savage Planet follows Journey to the Savage Planet, a sleeper hit from 2020. Raccoon Logic, a studio formed by developers from the now-defunct Typhoon Studios (the original developer), created the sequel. The game released across PC and consoles on May 8th. For this review I took a look at the PlayStation 5 version. Story Revenge Of The Savage Planet sees you wake up from a cryogenic slumber, having been sent lightyears into the future. However, things turn sour when you wake up and you discover that the corporation that sent you Alta, has fired you, leaving you to fend for yourself with the limited resources available to you. You’ll find the rest of you equipment scattered across multiple other planets, where you’ll catalogue a vast array of flora and fauna as you piece t...

Everyone Can Play: Highlights of Gaming Accessibility Conference Europe 2025

29Apr

By Cameron J KeywoodNo Comments

Accessibility In Gaming, Features

Everyone Can Play: Highlights of Gaming Accessibility Conference Europe 2025

When I walked into the hotel on day one of the Gaming Accessibility Conference (GASIG), I already knew I’d leave full of inspiration, information, and new connections. The organisers reserved a private guest space for us, and most of the action took place in a spacious area usually reserved for wedding receptions. My table sat right at the back and centre, surrounded by fellow attendees from all corners of the industry—from tech giants like Amazon to indie accessibility champions like Many Cats. Now, let’s get into the actual content. I won’t cover every talk in detail—just a few highlights—but if you want to catch any sessions from this year or past conferences, you’ll find them on the IGDA-GASIG YouTube channel. Ubi Gets Stuck In Jawad Shakil, QC Manager at Ubisoft India, showca...

7Apr

By Cameron J KeywoodNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

DETECTIVE – The Test PS5 Review

Time to put those little grey cells to work in another murder deduction mystery from solo developer K148 Game Studio. This time, the investigation shifts from a motel to three new locations in DETECTIVE – The Test, launching on April 7, 2025. Investigating the Gameplay The premise is simple, explore a location, find clues, and solve the crime. The first is a suburban house with missing keys, false rocks, and puzzle boxes your obstacles to success. A trailer park love triangle and an undercover police operation gone wrong at a coffee shop are your other cases. You don't get an introductory cutscene for each case, you get a screen advising you to use pen and paper to write down clues throughout the investigation. Each location has a small area with papers to find and puzzles to solve. ...

26Mar

By Cameron J KeywoodNo Comments

News & Updates

GAconf Europe Full Schedule Now Live

The Game Accessibility Conference aka GAconf, has announced its complete line-up for the next EU event. The European edition will take place in London from April 14th to 15th. It will feature talks and networking opportunities for professionals across all disciplines in the games industry. With an overarching aim is to highlight recent and future developments in game accessibility. What do you want to talk about? This year's EU GAconf features a wealth of knowledge sharing within the games industry. This includes deep dives from design considerations for deaf gamers, to accessible methods for conducting user research. From best practices for text size to how the Xbox Adaptive Controller has transformed gaming in the seven years since its release. You'll find it being talked about! ...