Atari Opens Hotel Investment To Fans, Starting From $500
The iconic Atari brand, synonymous with pioneering arcade classics like *Pong* and the 2600 console, is launching a flagship gaming hotel in Phoenix, Arizona.
Atari has launched a crowdfunding campaign inviting the public to invest in its first planned gaming hotel, a flagship property in Phoenix, Arizona slated to open in late 2028. According to the official Atari Hotels investor page, the project, developed with Intersection Development, will feature an esports arena for over 2,000 spectators, creator suites, and themed retail spaces. Real estate equity packages start at $500, offering fans a chance to own a stake in the venture, with the company seeking to raise between $35 million and $40 million to begin construction in early 2026.
This move marks the latest chapter in the brand's long and varied history, which began with the iconic Atari 2600 in 1977. While the company's fortunes have fluctuated since its golden age in the late 70s and early 80s-a period defined by titles like Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and Pitfall!-its name remains a powerful symbol of gaming's dawn. The hotel concept follows other modern ventures like the Atari VCS console and a series of retro game re-releases, attempting to leverage that enduring nostalgia into a tangible new business model.
For retro enthusiasts, the investment opportunity is a direct, if unconventional, link to the brand that dominated living rooms before the Nintendo Entertainment System arrived in 1985. The proposed hotel's aesthetic, as shown in concept art, evokes a futuristic vibe reminiscent of titles like Tempest or Battlezone, suggesting a physical homage to the vector-graphics era. It's a bold attempt to transform the cultural capital of Asteroids and Centipede into a real-world destination.
Whether this venture will capture the imagination of enough investors remains to be seen. The project has reportedly secured $14 million so far. If successful, the Phoenix hotel could become a unique pilgrimage site, blending modern esports with the legacy of a company that helped define the very concept of home video gaming.
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