Decades ago, they were one of the pioneering video game companies and have now taken their gaming culture to a different level. Atari, one of the first top-tier video game companies, has decided to diversify into hospitality and propose a chain of video game-themed hotels.
Atari owns and / or manages a portfolio of more than 200 games and franchises, including brands such as Asteroids, Centipede, Missile Command, Pong and RollerCoaster Tycoon.
If all goes according to plan, the first hotel is expected to start operating in 2022. Located in Las Vegas, it is being designed by Gensler, a global architecture firm. The neon-accented hotel is designed as the Atari A-shaped logo. It is expected to have 500 rooms.
According to the company, the hotels will offer “totally immersive experiences for every age and gaming ability,” where guests will be able to enjoy the latest in virtual and augmented reality. Some of the attractions will include rooms inspired by great science fiction stories, restaurants and lounges that stimulate the senses, retro games and sports venues, and more.
In January 2020, the company announced an agreement with GSD Group, a leading agency in innovation and strategy. Las Vegas, Nevada and Phoenix, Arizona, were named the locations where the first properties will appear, followed by hotels in Austin, Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle.
This year, Atari has signed a separate agreement with ICICB Group for the development of Atari brand hotels outside the US. According to reports, Dubai, Gibraltar and Spain are likely to be the first countries to have Atari-branded hotels.
It will be interesting to see how the hotel works. Atari players and fans are sure to book rooms for a dose of nostalgia. The game developer and home computer company founded in 1972 is known as the name of the video game concept and was a pioneer in the modern video game industry.
For information on opening the hotel, follow the Atari website.