The GTR crew got early hands-on access to the Gears of War: E-Day multiplayer beta! Join Danny Peña and Riana Manuel-Peña as they break down their experience testing out the brand-new 12-player Horde Siege Mode, updated gameplay mechanics, and full-launch details. From coordinating across three 4-player squads to testing out the new character classes (Assault, Breacher, Marksman, and Medic), we share our thoughts on what works, how the overall difficulty feels, and how movement mechanics like jumping and sliding change the game. Don't forget to Like & Subscribe for more gaming impressions, reviews, and podcasts!

Highlights

What is Horde Siege Mode? A hybrid of Horde and competitive co-op where 12 players across 3 squads fight Locust forces and fight for extraction points.

Extraction Mechanics: Helicopters will not land if the landing zone is swarmed—strategic clearing and timing are vital to surviving.

Character Class Breakdown: Detailed look at the four beta classes—Assault (Marcus), Breacher (Dom), Marksman, and Medic—and why distance revives make Medic indispensable.

Game Modes Overview: Differences between Blitz (fast 5-minute sessions), Siege (objective-focused co-op), and classic endless Horde.

Movement & Gunplay: How the new jumping and sliding mechanics feel, proper grenade trajectory aiming, and weapon upgrades in the pre-game lobby.

Connect with us:

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

Send us questions - [email protected] | Speakpipe.com/gamertagradio or 786-273-7GTR. Join our Discord - https://discord.gg/gtr chat with other GTR community member.

This week on Gamertag Radio, most horror fans are used to playing Silent Hill in third-person, but Silent Hill: Townfall changes how you play the series. Now a first-person experience, it's more terrifying and atmospheric than ever before. In this episode, Danny Pena shares his hands-on impressions and interviews with Jon McKellan (Writer and Director, Screen Burn) and Motoi Okamoto (Silent Hill Series Producer, Konami). Also joining this episode is Kahlief Adams from the Spawn On Me podcast.

Main Topics:

• The decision to adopt a first-person perspective in Silent Hill Townfall and its impact on horror immersion
• How the game's 1990s Scotland setting influences atmosphere and storytelling
• Innovative mechanics like CRTV device interaction and puzzle-solving techniques
• Character representation: a Black protagonist navigating a terrifying world
• Visual fidelity on PlayStation 5 Pro, aspect ratio choices, and console-specific enhancements
• Multiple endings and how player choices influence outcomes
• Inspiration from prior horror titles like PT and Silent Hill 4, and creative direction behind the game

Connect with us:

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

Send us questions - [email protected] | 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 give their spoiler-free reactions live from The Grove in Los Angeles right after seeing Spider-Man: Brand New Day!

From Jackie Chan’s stunt team handling the ground-breaking fight choreography to the incredible dynamic between Tom Holland and Jon Bernthal’s Punisher, we break down why this street-level, adult Peter Parker story might just be the best live-action Spider-Man film ever made. Thanks to Sony Pictures for inviting us to the screening

Episode Highlights
 
"Best Live-Action Spider-Man Ever": Both hosts agree that Brand New Day tops all previous films—even surpassing Spider-Man 2.

Next-Level Stunt & Web-Slinging Action: Coordinated by Jackie Chan's stunt team, the film features peak street-level combat, practical effects, and dynamic first-person POV swinging.

The Return of Frank Castle (The Punisher): Outstanding banter and genuine chemistry between Tom Holland and his co-star, keeping the core character intact without losing his edge.

Sadie Sink & Bruce Banner: Sadie Sink shines as a breakout star in her MCU debut, alongside key appearances by Bruce Banner / The Hulk.

A True Street-Level MCU Era: Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the story embraces an adult, independent Peter Parker operating in New York without Tony Stark or Doctor Strange holding his hand.

Connect with us:

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

Send us questions - [email protected] | Speakpipe.com/gamertagradio or 786-273-7GTR. Join our Discord - https://discord.gg/gtr chat with other GTR community member.

This week on Gamertag Radio. Meet Mara Junot, the iconic voice behind Storm in Marvel’s Fighting Souls. From radio DJ to superhero legend, Mara reveals how she's breaking barriers for diversity in gaming. Dive behind the scenes as she shares audition secrets, balancing hero vs. villain roles, and essential advice for aspiring voice actors.

Key Takeaways & Highlights

Secret Auditions: Voice actors frequently receive audition scripts under code names and vague descriptions, requiring intuition to figure out the exact character.

Heroes vs. Villains: Mara finds heroes trickier to voice because they undergo complex internal journeys, whereas villains usually have clearer motivations and immediate conflicts.

Radio DJ Background: Working as a radio DJ for nearly eight years taught Mara essential mic techniques, commercial recording skills, and natural delivery before she transitioned into video game voice acting.

Industry Advice: For newcomers entering a crowded market, success requires patience, deep research into demos and agencies, continuous training, and networking.

Connect with us:

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

Send us questions - [email protected] | Speakpipe.com/gamertagradio or 786-273-7GTR. Join our Discord - https://discord.gg/gtr chat with other GTR community member.

The Gamertag Radio crew reviews Halo Campaign Evolved! Danny, Parris, and Riana break down the Unreal Engine 5 visuals, modern mechanics like sprint, and the brand new bonus prequel missions featuring Sergeant Johnson. Plus, they share platform performance details and discuss what this means for the future of Halo.

Episode Highlights

• Visuals & Engine: Built in Unreal Engine 5 (4K, 60+ FPS) featuring improved visuals, richer sound, and added environmental details like wildlife.

• Modern Mechanics: Adds sprint, clamber, ground pounds, vehicle hijacking, and improved enemy AI.

• Rebalanced Arsenal: Weapons feel refreshed; the Needler and Needle Rifle are far more effective, while the iconic pistol remains strong.

• Bonus Prequel Levels: Set one year before the main story, these new missions omit Cortana, feature Sergeant Johnson, and support chaotic four-player co-op.

• Performance: Plays great on PC and ROG Ally X, but performance is poor on the original white ROG Ally.

• No Microtransactions: All cosmetics, such as alternate Master Chief skins, are earned strictly through gameplay.

Connect with us:

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

Send us questions - [email protected] | Speakpipe.com/gamertagradio or 786-273-7GTR. Join our Discord - https://discord.gg/gtr chat with other GTR community member.

This week on Gamertag Radio, Last week, Sony Pictures invited me to the Spider-Man: Brand New Day press conference with the cast and filmmakers. Truly grateful for the opportunity.

• Tom Holland
• Zendaya
• Jacob Batalon
• Sadie Sink
• Jon Bernthal
• Director Destin Daniel Cretton
• Producer Kevin Feige
• Producer Amy Pascal

Here are some of the quotes from the press conference:

Tom Holland on Peter's isolation: "Sometimes the bravest thing that you can do is ask for help. And he is actively ignoring that advice, and it is having a profound effect on his life..."

Tom Holland on Sadie Sink: "..For me, I think Sadie is an unsung hero because she can't talk about anything, right?"

Zendaya on the MJ/Peter dynamic shift: "In previous films MJ was always the pessimist and it was Peter that was always the optimist... Now that he's alone, he's kind of adopted that negativity and she's adopted his positivity without even knowing it."

Jon Bernthal on protecting the Punisher: "I think what we set out to do is to make it believable that the Punisher could walk out of one of those TV-MA shows and onto this set and vice versa."

Amy Pascal on the true essence of Spider-Man: "...when he is sitting on the floor by the washing machine... looking at the key to the city, which is the thing that's supposed to make him feel good about himself, and this little washing machine in this little apartment and his suit in there spinning around, I thought that is the essence of Spider-Man."

Thanks once again to Sony Pictures for giving me the opportunity. I can't wait to check out the film!

This week on Gamertag Radio, Xbox’s strategy is shifting, and the future of Halo, Fallout, Game Pass, and exclusives is all on the table. In this episode, Danny and Parris break down what’s changing and what’s still unclear. All this and more only on GTR!

In this episode:

• The real reason Microsoft is slow on the exclusives and whether Xbox will play the long game or just fold
• Sony’s push for digital, its impact on small studios, and whether physical media is heading to the archives
• The future of game exclusivity, how Xbox and PlayStation plan to handle multi-platform titles in the era of cloud and streaming
• Why Game Pass might evolve but won't disappear, plus the tricky math of hardware prices amid a chip shortage
• The unfiltered truth about Halo, Fallout, and other big IPs missing in action, and if we’re headed for a dry spell or a bounty of content

Connect with us:

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

Send us questions - [email protected] | Speakpipe.com/gamertagradio or 786-273-7GTR. Join our Discord - https://discord.gg/gtr chat with other GTR community member.

This week on Gamertag Radio, Danny Peña reviews Denshattack! Find out why this is one of 2026's best games.

This week on Gamertag Radio, the whole crew is back! Gaming’s getting expensive, chaotic, and all digital. From Sony killing physical discs in 2028 to Microsoft’s disc-to-digital plans, layoffs, and price hikes. Paris Lily, Peter Toledo, and Danny Peña break down how inflation, exclusives, and corporate moves are turning a hobby into a luxury.

In this episode:

• How Sony’s 2028 digital-only shift could lock you out of your favorite games
• The real reason behind the rising console prices—spoiler: it’s not just inflation
• Why the industry’s debt spiral might be the biggest threat to gaming’s future
• The death of physical media and the implications for game preservation
• Industry insiders weigh in on layoffs, studio closures, and the madness of rumors
• The impact of government regulation on digital ownership and the murky waters of licensing
• Future of backward compatibility and the long road to game preservation

Connect with us:

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

Send us questions - [email protected] | Speakpipe.com/gamertagradio or 786-273-7GTR. Join our Discord - https://discord.gg/gtr chat with other GTR community member.

This week on Gamertag Radio, Danny and Riana share their hands-on impressions of Orbitals, an upcoming game for Nintendo Switch 2.

Xbox layoffs and a shifting hardware market are reshaping gaming fast. In this episode on Gamertag Radio, Danny Peña and Riana break down what’s happening behind the scenes, why the industry feels more uncertain than ever, and what it means for the future.

Send us questions - [email protected] | Speakpipe.com/gamertagradio or 786-273-7GTR. Join our Discord - https://discord.gg/gtr chat with other GTR community member.