Atari Is Breaking Into The Hotel Industry With 8 Video Game Themed Hotels
A lot of company’s in the video game industry have made aggressive leaps. But none as aggressive as this one. Atari is going to be entering the hotel industry with plans to open in Las Vegas; Denver; Chicago; Austin, Texas; Seattle; San Francisco; and San Jose; California. First of which is Phoenix – which will start construction late 2020.
Shelly Murphy, the founder of GSD Group, said she wants to create an ecosystem for players to eat, sleep and play.. Some hotel rooms will have retro video game theme, while others may have a more futuristic design. Our hope is that you come in and never want to leave because there’s a lot of interaction.”
“We are thrilled to partner with GSD Group and True North Studio to build the first-ever Atari branded hotels across the United States,” Atari CEO Fred Chesnais said in a statement. “Atari is an iconic global brand that resonates with people of all ages, countries, cultures and ethnic backgrounds and we cannot wait for our fans and their families to enjoy this new hotel concept.”
Of particular note to the tech savvy: Atari announced its intent to include “the latest in VR and AR.” Other hotels will support infrastructure to accommodate esports events.“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,” GSD Group Cofounder Shelly Murphy 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.”
Forbes
Renderings for Phoenix hotel
What’s better than getting to a hotel, tossing your bags down, lowering the A/C to a pneumonia causing temperature, and jumping into an oversized bed, with sheets that were actually cleaned this year? Not many other things, that’s what. But with an Atari hotel.. you’re able to do all of that and then fire up some RollerCoaster Tycoon rip some VR, or watch an esports event that’s happening downstairs.
Listen, it doesn’t sounds all that much different than a normal hotel, because let’s be honest.. it’s not. But you pay for the experience you get at a hotel. With video game themed rooms, gaming stations throughout the hotel as well as esport events.. That’s an experience. It’s a whole different take on the industry, and while it’s not for everyone – it’ll be for a lot of people.
It might, just might, make people speak to one another. Instead of “what floor?” on the elevator, it could turn into – a gentle gesture of passing a controller in the lobby to take on an absolute stranger to play Pong.
