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Gamertag Radio

Gamertag Radio

Step into the world of gaming with Gamertag Radio! As one of the most established gaming podcasts, we bring you twice-weekly episodes packed with breaking news, expert reviews, and exclusive interviews. Join hosts Danny Peña, Peter Toledo, Parris Lilly, and Riana Manuel-Peña as they dive into the latest gaming trends and topics. Podcasting since Feb 2005.

Business Email: danny@gamertagradio.com

60 episodes
a few times a week
Avg 27 min
English

Episodes 60

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Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

S21 · E1610
Thursday · 45 min
Xbox XP Discussion: Creators, Community Events, and Industry Impact
Xbox recently announced XBOX XP, a new division focused on Xbox Pictures, Products, Places, and Partnerships. But what does this major announcement actually mean for content creators, influencers, and gaming communities? In this episode of Gamertag Radio, Danny Peña and Riana Manuel-Peña sit down with industry veteran Andy Lunique (aka Chef Andy, former games influencer marketing specialist) to break down the real-world impact of XBOX XP. Topics covered in this episode: XBOX Partnerships: How Xbox plans to collaborate with creators, brands, and communities beyond simple sponsorships. The Evolution of Influencers: Moving from big-budget creator campaigns to micro and mid-tier community builders. Third Places & Live Events: Bringing back in-person fan experiences, launch parties, and conventions like Xbox FanFest. Leadership at XBOX XP: How former Mojang President Kayleen Walters' background spans both traditional media and gaming. Building Real Communities: Advice for creators navigating content platforms in 2026 without burning out. Follow the Guest: Andy Lunique: andylunique.com Connect with us: Danny Peña Parris Lilly Pete Toledo Riana Manuel-Peña Send us questions - fanmail@gamertagradio.com | Speakpipe.com/gamertagradio or 786-273-7GTR. Join our Discord - https://discord.gg/gtr chat with other GTR community member.
S21 · E1609
Tuesday · 6 min
Nintendo Switch Sports Resort Hands-On Preview
Parris Lilly had the opportunity to check out Nintendo Switch Sports Resort at the Nintendo Holiday Showcase in New York City! In this hands-on preview, I walk through my experience testing out both exploratory and competitive modes: Island Exploration: Power cruising (wave racing), prop plane flying, and skateboarding with photo objectives Competitive Modes: Thumb wrestling, archery, table tennis, boxing, and bowling Nintendo Switch Sports Resort releases on October 22, 2026. Big thanks to Nintendo for inviting me out!
S21 · E1608
Sunday · 1 hr 10 min
Call of Duty MW4 on Switch 2! Fan Mail and Gears of War E-Day RTX 5090
The whole crew is back! Danny Peña, Parris Lilly, and Peter Toledo sit down to catch up on the latest gaming news, hands-on impressions, community voicemails, and industry rants. First, the team listens to community voicemails touching on compassion during industry layoffs, Danny’s work with media outreach on major games, and accessibility options like difficulty modes in modern RPGs. Then, Parris gives a deep dive into Gears of War: E-Day running on PC. Sponsored segment details powered by NVIDIA GeForce showcase how DLSS 4.5, multi-frame generation, and ray tracing elevate the visual fidelity on RTX 50-series GPUs. Plus, the crew shares their thoughts on the return of Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago. Next, Parris breaks down his experience at the Nintendo Holiday Showcase! Hear early impressions of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and Super Mario Minecraft running on the Switch 2, alongside a look at upcoming accessories and hardware. Finally, Parris rants about feature parity issues on the Xbox PC App before the team dives into a discussion on Project Helix, physical vs. digital game ownership, and why Bethesda’s release timelines for Fallout and The Elder Scrolls VI are taking way too long compared to studios like Remedy and CD Projekt Red.
S21 · E1607
October 2 · 1 hr 1 min
Protecting and Empowering Young Gamers in the Digital Age
In this episode of Gamertag Radio, Danny Peña and Riana Manuel-Peña, a panel featuring clinician scientist & content creator, airiesummer, Teamwork CEO Lynetta Cunningham, and MediaWise interactive learning designer Sean Marcus discusses strategies for keeping young gamers safe online. The panel covers navigating age ratings, fostering open communication between parents and children, combatting toxicity, and leveraging video games as positive tools for mental wellness and informal learning. This episode was sponsored by MediaWise. Want to win a $50 Visa gift card? Complete our quick survey to share your feedback about today's discussion, help shape future programs, and enter for your chance to win!
S21 · E1606
October 1 · 16 min
Gears of War: E-Day Interview with The Coalition
We sit down with Creative Director Matt Searcy and Art Director Aren Hamak at the Gears of War: E-Day event in Los Angeles to discuss bringing the franchise back to its darkest roots! In this interview, the team behind Gears of War: E-Day breaks down:The Fall of Kalona: - How the city evolves and crumbles as the outbreak unfolds. - Marcus & Dom’s Origin: Exploring their relationship following the Pendulum Wars. - Modernized Gameplay: Upgraded cover mechanics, new movement, and enhanced verticality built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5. Horror Roots: Turning up the scare factor, gore, and terror of the Locust swarm. - Bravo Squad & Lore: Introducing new characters and expanding on classic Gears lore with input from author Karen Traviss. Are you excited to experience the chaos of Emergence Day? Let us know your thoughts! Connect with us: Danny Peña Parris Lilly Pete Toledo Riana Manuel-Peña Send us questions - fanmail@gamertagradio.com | Speakpipe.com/gamertagradio or 786-273-7GTR. Join our Discord - https://discord.gg/gtr chat with other GTR community member.
S21 · E1605
October 1 · 32 min
Gears of War: E-Day Campaign Review
We played through the Gears of War: E-Day co-op campaign across PC, Xbox Series S, and the ROG Xbox Ally X to deliver our honest impressions! From witnessing Emergence Day in real-time to testing Unreal Engine 5 performance, new cover mechanics, weapon modding, and city destruction, we break down everything you need to know. Is this prequel story a return to peak horror-infused Gears of War, or does repetition hold it back?
S21 · E1604
September 28 · 21 min
Is The Witcher 3 Remastered Worth Playing in 2026?
Danny Peña and Parris Lilly dive into The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered! Over a decade after its original release, CD Projekt Red has delivered a major update packed with PC Path Tracing, DLSS 4.5 support, reworked combat animations, UI updates, transmog, auto-looting, and accessibility features. In this episode, Danny and Parris break down their hands-on impressions across PC and Switch 2, discuss why the inclusion of Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine for free makes this the ultimate definitive edition, and share their thoughts on the upcoming "Songs of the Past" expansion along with CDPR's target release for The Witcher 4.
S21 · E1603
September 27 · 1 hr 10 min
Control Resonant Spoilercast: Ending Explained & Remedyverse Secrets
In this special episode of Gamertag Radio, Riana Manuel-Peña sits down with Kahlief Adams (Spawn on Me) and Tony Polanco (Tom's Guide) for a full deep-dive discussion on Control Resonant. The crew breaks down their history with Remedy Entertainment, overall impressions, character arcs, mechanics, side missions, sound design, and where this title stands in the Game of the Year conversation. ⚠️ SPOILER WARNING: This discussion contains full story, character, and ending spoilers for Control Resonant. Proceed with caution if you haven't finished the game!
S21 · E1602
September 24 · 19 min
Logitech G PLAY: 15 New Announcements & Hands-On Interview
We were live at Venice Beach for the global Logitech G PLAY celebration! In this interview, Andrew walks us through Logitech G’s massive wave of announcements, featuring 15 new products and new software tools. We check out the return of an iconic microphone with the new Yeti 2, test the magnetic haptic click on the Pro X3 Superstrike gaming mouse, break down the Pro X2 Rapid analog keyboard, and explore how Streamlabs and G HUB are making content creation easier for every type of gamer. Sponsored by Logitech G.
S21 · E1601
September 22 · 33 min
The Xbox Big Reset: Studio Closures, Layoffs & Massive Restructuring Explained
Danny Peña and Parris Lilly breakdown the massive news surrounding the "Xbox Big Reset". From major studio shakeups and layoffs to big organizational shifts across Halo Studios, Rare, Bethesda, and Activision, we unpack what these huge changes mean for the future of Xbox and its core franchises. In this episode: The Impact of Layoffs & Closures: Over 260 employees impacted across Halo Studios and Xbox Game Studios, along with the closure of Ninja Theory. Halo Studios Moves to Activision: What does this mean for the future of the Halo franchise, multiplayer, and the next campaign? Studio Restructuring: Rare and World's Edge under Activision, Obsidian moving under Bethesda, and Turn 10 merging with Playground Games. The Future Roadmap: What to expect from leadership under Asha Sharma, Project Helix expectations, and the long road ahead for upcoming flagship releases.
S21 · E1600
September 20 · 1 hr 4 min
Kojima Moves to Xbox & Game Pass Big Changes Rumor?
Welcome to Episode 1600 of Gamertag Radio! In this episode, Danny Peña and Parris Lilly dive into the latest massive shifts in the video game industry. We break down the shocking news regarding Hideo Kojima, PlayStation, and Xbox, including recent updates on his upcoming project. Plus, we discuss the latest rumors surrounding Xbox Game Pass, could day-one releases be coming to an end, and what does the future hold for game subscription models and rising AAA budgets? Special thanks to NVIDIA GeForce for sponsoring a segment of this episode! Parris shares his hands-on PC experience playing Remedy's Control Resonant, running with DLSS 4.5, Path Tracing, and Ray Reconstruction.
S21 · E1599
September 18 · 54 min
The Attention Economy and the Underbelly of the Business of "Fun"
In this live episode of Gamertag Radio sponsored by MediaWise, host Danny Peña is joined by co-host Riana Manuel-Peña, actor/composer Greg Chun, content creator Destin Legarie and MediaWise Deputy Director, Brittani Kollar. Together, they dive deep into navigating online toxicity, avoiding clickbait, detecting AI-generated content, and maintaining media literacy in today's attention economy. Want to win a $50 Visa gift card? Complete our quick survey to share your feedback about today's discussion, help shape future programs, and enter for your chance to win!
S21 · E1598
September 18 · 47 min
Why Control Resonant Might Be Remedy's Best Game Yet!
In this non-spoiler review, Danny Peña, Riana Manuel-Peña, and Parris Lilly break down their early hands-on impressions and deep dives into Remedy’s latest release, Control Resonant. From its expanded open-world Manhattan setting and deep combat mechanics to its incredible soundtrack and customizable assist options, the team discusses why Control Resonant stands out as a potential contender for Game of the Year 2026. Whether you are playing on PC, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X | S discover how the game pushes the Remedy Connected Universe to whole new heights. Huge thanks to Remedy and Tara Bruno PR for sending over early review codes!
S21 · E1597
September 13 · 26 min
ROG Xbox Ally X20 OLED Interview with Whitson Gordon
Danny Peña speaks with ASUS's Whitson Gordon to discuss the official announcement and details of the limited edition ROG Xbox Ally X20 20th Anniversary model! Whitson shares insights from Gamescom, detailing the device's standout features—including its hot-off-the-press 7.4-inch OLED display with variable refresh rate (VRR), TMR joysticks, rubberized grips, micro SD Express support, and transforming D-pad. They also dive into the new TV docking station improvements, the exclusive Pelican case bundle with XReal AR glasses, pricing, and upcoming software updates for the ROG Ally ecosystem. The ROG Xbox Ally X20 officially launches on October 15th. Pre-orders are available now at select retailers like Best Buy. Connect with us: Danny Peña Parris Lilly Pete Toledo Riana Manuel-Peña Send us questions - fanmail@gamertagradio.com | Speakpipe.com/gamertagradio or 786-273-7GTR. Join our Discord - https://discord.gg/gtr chat with other GTR community member.
S21 · E1596
September 10 · 33 min
Marvel’s Wolverine PS5 Review
In this episode of Gamertag Radio, Riana Manuel-Peña and Tony Polanco deliver their non-spoiler review, first impressions, and gameplay breakdown of Insomniac Games' Marvel’s Wolverine for the PlayStation 5! Tony shares his thoughts after 100% completing the game, joining Riana for a deep dive into how Insomniac handles Logan’s story, brutal combat mechanics, and team dynamics. In this discussion, we cover: Story & Universe: How Insomniac’s take on Team X, Nathaniel Essex, and the X-Men world subverts MCU and comic expectations. Gameplay & Combat: The brutal gore, enemy variety, boss battles and pacing. Skills & Customization: Upgrades, the "illusion of choice" in RPG skill trees, unlockable suits, and health boosts. PS5 & PS5 Pro Tech: 120Hz performance, ray tracing, DualSense haptics, and seamless load times powered by Insomniac's rift technology. Follow Tony Polanco on Twitter/X (@RomuDeath) and check out his tech and gaming coverage over at Tom's Guide! Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more reviews and podcast episodes from Gamertag Radio!
S21 · E1595
September 10 · 43 min
Final Fantasy VII Revelation Interview: Trilogy Ending, DLC Plans, & Switch 2 Development
Gamertag Radio's Danny Peña speaks with Square Enix directors Naoki Hamaguchi and Teruki Endo to discuss Final Fantasy VII Revelation, the third and final chapter in the remake trilogy. The team reflects on the 10-year journey of rebuilding Final Fantasy VII, balancing nostalgic battle design with modern action RPG mechanics, and landing the plane for this legendary story. Danny also dives into multi-platform development on the Nintendo Switch 2, how the trilogy connects to Advent Children, and what the future holds—including two planned story DLCs! Connect with us: Danny Peña Parris Lilly Pete Toledo Riana Manuel-Peña Send us questions - fanmail@gamertagradio.com | Speakpipe.com/gamertagradio or 786-273-7GTR. Join our Discord - https://discord.gg/gtr chat with other GTR community member.
S21 · E1594
September 7 · 9 min
Is DLSS 5 Worth the Hype? Hands-On Impressions with NBA 2K27!
NVIDIA GeForce DLSS 5 is officially here, and NBA 2K27 is the first title to take advantage of it! Following early leaks and initial controversy surrounding how the tech works, I had the chance to get hands-on experience both at Gamescom and at home on my RTX 5090 rig. In this segment, sponsored by NVIDIA GeForce, I break down how developer Visual Concepts actually implemented DLSS 5 into NBA 2K27 using 3D guided neural rendering. Learn how targeted, asset-specific application transforms player details, arena lighting, and crowd realism—plus my real-world performance benchmarks at 4K Ultra settings! Key Highlights: Addressing the Controversy: How DLSS 5 works when properly implemented per asset by developers rather than as a blanket filter. Visual Improvements: Enhanced lighting, material detail, player models, and crowd realism in NBA 2K27. PC Performance: Hands-on impressions playing at 4K resolution, ultra settings, and ray tracing on an RTX 5090 running at 160–180 FPS. NVIDIA Suite: Combining 3D guided neural rendering, multi-frame generation, and Reflex low latency for smooth gameplay. Check out actual 4K gameplay on the YouTube channel to see DLSS 5 in action!
S21 · E1593
September 4 · 58 min
The Current State of Gaming Spaces & Information Disorder with Mediawise
In this episode of Gamertag Radio, hosts Danny Peña and Riana Manuel-Peña team up with MediaWise to explore the impact of online misinformation and toxic culture within video game spaces. They are joined by lead web developer at Poynter, Jay Tillery and veteran 3D artist Del Walker. The panel discusses how rumors spread rapidly across social media, why negative clickbait dominates the algorithm, and the real-world impact fake leaks and toxic discourse have on both game developers and gaming communities. Program Feedback & Giveaway Entry - click here Key Topics Covered: The Mechanics of Misinformation: Del Walker offers a developer's perspective on why bad-faith rumors, clickbait headlines, and claims of "lazy developers" gain traction online due to missing context around bug fixes, certification schedules, and studio pipelines. Digital Ownership & Industry Trends: A candid discussion on digital licensing, game preservation, content removal on major console storefronts, and how consumer behavior impacts physical media. Cleaning Your Digital Space: Actionable advice on curbing toxicity in online lobbies, curate social media algorithms, and combat information disorder. Note: This live stream recorded in partnership with MediaWise leads into Gamertag Radio's upcoming panel at TwitchCon 2026 in San Diego on Nov 14 at 10:30am PT.
S21 · E1592
September 3 · 17 min
The Blood of Dawnwalker: Combat Deep Dive: Customization, Difficulty, and Vampire Powers with Rebel Wolves
At Gamescom, Parris Lilly catches up with Lead Combat Designer from Rebel Wolves, to discuss the immersive combat systems in The Blood of Dawnwalker. He breaks down the design behind the game's directional sword fighting, optional accessibility options like Omni-blocks, and how the team balanced combat difficulty to keep players engaged. The conversation also covers player customization, skill tree trade-offs, and the mechanical differences between playing as a human utilizing witchcraft during the day versus a brutal vampire at night.
S21 · E1591
September 1 · 15 min
The Witcher 3 Remake & Songs of the Past Expansion Impressions! | Gamescom 2026
Fresh back in Los Angeles after Gamescom, Danny Peña and Parris Lilly break down their hands-on theater presentation and impressions of The Witcher 3 Remaster and its massive new story expansion, Songs of the Past! In this episode, Danny and Parris discuss: The Witcher 3 Remaster Announcement – Their reaction to the surprising Opening Night Live announcement, free current-gen upgrades, included expansions (Hearts of Stone & Blood and Wine), and massive quality-of-life improvements. Songs of the Past Expansion Breakdown – Exploring the stunning new northern region of Lettin (ancestral home of Dandelion), returning fan-favorite characters like Roach, and updated combat, skill trees, ray tracing, and monster behaviors. Lore & Witcher 4 Connections – Geralt coming out of retirement to solve Dandelion's disappearance and how this expansion bridges into the next era of The Witcher. CD Projekt Red Events & Nintendo Switch 2 – Off-site highlights, including seeing The Witcher 3 running on the Nintendo Switch 2 and meeting the legendary voice of Geralt, Doug Cockle. Special thanks to CD Projekt Red for hosting Gamer Tag Radio throughout Gamescom!

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