Gamertag Radio

In this episode of Gamertag Radio, host Danny Peña sits down with Chris Hewish, President of Xsolla. With over 25 years of experience in the gaming industry at companies like Activision, DreamWorks, and Skydance, Chris shares valuable insights on the evolving business of video games.

Danny and Chris discuss the shift in premium game pricing, hardware costs, and the economic realities facing game developers today. Chris breaks down why developers are shifting to direct-to-consumer web shops, how direct player connections impact studio sustainability, and the critical importance of building long-term player trust over purely transactional relationships. They also dive into topics including user-generated content (UGC), player digital asset ownership, and the future outlook for traditional home consoles.

Additionally, Parris Lilly shares impressions of Phantom Blade Zero using NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 with Ray Reconstruction and Path Tracing for the ultimate visuals and performance with a RTX 50 Series GPU #RTXON sponsored by NVIDIA GeForce. Sponsored segment.

While preparing for an international move to Punta Cana, Danny Peña and Riana Manuel-Peña put all their major gaming rigs and consoles into storage. The result? Danny spent the last two months reviewing all major upcoming and new game releases strictly on the ROG Xbox Ally X, while Riana tested out the Nintendo Switch 2!

In this episode of Gamer Tag Radio, they break down what it’s like living purely off handheld devices, comparing performance, ergonomics, battery convenience, and overall experience against traditional desktop PCs, the Xbox Series S/X, and the Steam Deck.

Key Topics Covered:

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Moving setup changes & why everything went into storage

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Why the ROG Xbox Ally X replaced a high-end gaming PC for reviews

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Testing games on ROG Ally X: Gears of War: E-Day, Control Resonant, Silent Hill, Hellraiser, Forza Horizon, and more

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Switch 2 impressions & split Joy-Con ergonomics

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Playing Call of Duty campaign offline on Switch 2

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ROG Ally X vs. Steam Deck performance comparisons

• Handhelds as dad/parent gaming solutions & mini PC alternatives

In this episode of Gamer Tag Radio, Danny Peña and Riana Manuel-Peña take a trip down memory lane to react to and share their absolute favorite video game swag, press kits, and promotional packages received throughout their gaming careers!

From a limited-edition 007 gold gun display and a custom Sifu tea set to pizza-scented TMNT Xbox controllers and ultra-rare consoles (like the E3 2005 Xbox 360 faceplate and the GTA IV: Lost and Damned Xbox 360), they break down the most creative, high-effort, and memorable gaming collectibles sent by developers over the years.

Games & Items Featured in This Video:

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GoldenEye 007 Limited Edition Display Case

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Viva Piñata Custom Wooden Box & Character Piñata

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Starfield Custom Xbox Headset & Controller

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Sifu Press Kit with Stoneware Tea Set & Life Coins

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Cronos: The New Dawn PS5 Controller & Limited Release Vinyl

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Xbox x Samsung Note 20 Cloud Gaming VIP Kit

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Xbox x OPI Summer Nail Polish Collection & Custom Controller

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Space Jam: A New Legacy LeBron James Figurine & Controller Set

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TMNT: Mutant Mayhem Pizza-Scented Xbox Controllers

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Xbox Series X Oversized Jenga Tower

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The Last of Us Emergency Survival Kit & Flashlight

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Outriders: Worldslayer Pyromancer Class Hot Sauce Challenge

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Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Event Swag & "Winky Wash"

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Tell Me Why Authentic Tlingit Hand-Painted Wooden Figures & ARG Mailers

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Psychonauts 2 Raz Goggles & Brain Puzzle Unboxing

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Minecraft Legends Mini Creeper Fridge

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Titanfall Respawn Developer Easter Egg Controller

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South of Midnight Vinyl Soundtrack

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Battletoads Flash Drive Cassette Tape & Promo Box

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GTA IV: The Lost and Damned Limited Edition Console

• 10th Anniversary Xbox Live Signed Console

Join host Danny Peña and special guest Riana Manuel-Peña on this special episode of Gamertag Radio for a spoiler-free review of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 campaign!

Danny and Riana dive deep into their hands-on impressions across multiple platforms—including Riana's experience on Xbox Series S and Danny's early impressions playing on Nintendo Switch 2. They break down:

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Story & Pacing: Riana's thoughts on why this is her favorite Modern Warfare campaign yet, the TV-show quality story structure, and engaging character arcs.

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Gameplay & Performance: How the game performs on Switch 2 and Series S, branching player choices, stealth missions, and new mechanics.

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Open-World & DMZ Integration: A preview of the semi-open campaign missions and how they set expectations for DMZ.

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Special Surprises & Tips: Highlights on the integrated Wu-Tang Clan elements, crucial advice for the end-credits, and a look ahead to multiplayer.

Special thanks to Activision for providing review copies.

Connect with us:

• Danny Peña
• Parris Lilly
• Pete Toledo
• Riana Manuel-Peña

Send us questions - fanmail@gamertagradio.com | http://speakpipe.com/gamertagradio or 786-273-7GTR. Join our Discord - https://discord.gg/gtr chat with other GTR community member.

Danny Peña and Parris Lilly dive deep into the ultimate history and current status of the Call of Duty franchise. The duo examines COD's historic sales domination since 2005, comparing its performance against industry giants like Halo 3, Grand Theft Auto, and Red Dead Redemption.

They also evaluate the business impact of releasing Call of Duty on Game Pass on day one, analyzing why strategy shifts occur and what the future holds for the franchise across platforms. Plus, Parris breaks down his hands-on experience playing Call of Duty multiplayer on the Nintendo Switch 2 and discusses how bringing COD to Switch 2 expands its global ecosystem.

Danny Peña and Parris Lilly are joined by special guest Brittany (aka Blonde Nerd) to break down Parris’ hands-on preview experience playing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake on Nintendo Switch 2 at Nintendo’s 2026 Holiday Showcase!

Parris shares details from his 80-minute preview session, covering Kokiri Forest, the Deku Tree, Hyrule Field, Hyrule Castle Town, and adult Link combat inside the Forest Temple. The crew discusses the new dedicated jump button, updated combat and camera controls, voice acting, enemy redesigns, and whether this remake stays faithful to the 1998 N64 classic.

Connect with us:

• Danny Peña
• Parris Lilly
• Pete Toledo
• Riana Manuel-Peña

Send us questions - fanmail@gamertagradio.com | http://speakpipe.com/gamertagradio or 786-273-7GTR. Join our Discord - https://discord.gg/gtr chat with other GTR community member.

Danny Peña and Parris Lilly return to discuss the biggest stories in gaming and tech! In this episode, the duo dives deep into the early estimated sales numbers for Gears of War: E-Day, addressing the online discourse around Game Pass vs. direct sales and why artificial sales metrics don't paint the whole picture.

Later, Parris shares his hands-on experience at the Microsoft and NVIDIA Surface Event in San Francisco, breaking down the Surface Laptop Ultra, the RTX Spark architecture, and what it all means for the future of PC gaming and AI integration. The hosts also look ahead to the Xbox 25th Anniversary fan event in Seattle, predicting potential hardware announcements, Project Helix details, and the evolving future of consoles.

Connect with us:

• Danny Peña
• Parris Lilly
• Pete Toledo
• Riana Manuel-Peña

Send us questions - fanmail@gamertagradio.com | http://speakpipe.com/gamertagradio or 786-273-7GTR. Join our Discord - https://discord.gg/gtr chat with other GTR community member.

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:

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XBOX Partnerships: How Xbox plans to collaborate with creators, brands, and communities beyond simple sponsorships.

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The Evolution of Influencers: Moving from big-budget creator campaigns to micro and mid-tier community builders.

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Third Places & Live Events: Bringing back in-person fan experiences, launch parties, and conventions like Xbox FanFest.

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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: https://andylunique.com/

Connect with us:

• Danny Peña
• Parris Lilly
• Pete Toledo
• Riana Manuel-Peña

Send us questions - fanmail@gamertagradio.com | http://speakpipe.com/gamertagradio or 786-273-7GTR. Join our Discord - https://discord.gg/gtr chat with other GTR community member.

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:

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Island Exploration: Power cruising (wave racing), prop plane flying, and skateboarding with photo objectives

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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!

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.

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!

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 | http://speakpipe.com/gamertagradio or 786-273-7GTR. Join our Discord - https://discord.gg/gtr chat with other GTR community member.

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?

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.

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!

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.

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:

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The Impact of Layoffs & Closures: Over 260 employees impacted across Halo Studios and Xbox Game Studios, along with the closure of Ninja Theory.

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Halo Studios Moves to Activision: What does this mean for the future of the Halo franchise, multiplayer, and the next campaign?

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Studio Restructuring: Rare and World's Edge under Activision, Obsidian moving under Bethesda, and Turn 10 merging with Playground Games.

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The Future Roadmap: What to expect from leadership under Asha Sharma, Project Helix expectations, and the long road ahead for upcoming flagship releases.

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.

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!

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!