Atari Set to Open a Series of Hotels

Looking at today’s multi-billion dollar video game industry, and the massive breadth of culture that is touched by it, it’s easy to forget that it all sprouted from such humble beginnings. Just two paddles hitting a ball back and forth across a screen. Simple. 

Atari is the company that brought video games from the arcade and into your home. An entire generation grew up sitting too close to the TV, joystick in hand, completely transfixed as they tried to run they tried to save the planet from Space Invaders. While other companies—Nintendo, Sega, Sony—built on Atari’s accomplishments, and exceeded them, there has always been genuine affection among gamers for the first brand they fell in love with.

Atari is attempting to cash in on that affection by opening a series of Atari-themed hotels throughout the United States. The first hotel is planned to begin construction in Phoenix this year, with more hotels planned to open in Las Vegas, Chicago, San Francisco, Austin, San Jose, Seattle.

Atari is partnering with the GSD Group for its first foray into the hospitality industry. The hotels will include immersive VR and AR (virtual and augmented reality) experiences, as well as plenty of games that will appeal to all ages and ability levels. 

“Atari Hotels will be the first of their kind in the U.S., offering gamers of all ages the ultimate in immersive entertainment and in every aspect of gaming,” Shelly Murphy, founder of the GSD Group, said in a statement. “We’re excited to be working on this project with such great partners and to bring a big win to Arizona.” 

We’re not really sure how much actual rest one would get at an Atari hotel, I know that I’d be playing games all night, but the idea does sound like a winner. In the gallery below you’ll find the target audience for the hotel, people with Atari tattoos!