NEED TO KNOW
- A hotel themed after the classic gaming brand Atari is coming to Phoenix
- The property is set to include 90,000 square feet of “experience-driven” spaces
- Subtle nods to classic Atari games and franchises will be featured throughout the building
Get ready to level up your next vacation! The “world’s first truly playable hotel” is slated to begin construction next year.
“Atari Hotels reimagines hospitality for the modern gaming, pop culture and sports fan,” the company announced in a Dec. 17 press release.
The new property, located in Phoenix, is set to open with more than 90,000 square feet of “experience driven spaces,” including a 2,000-person concert and event center; and an esports venue with a 10,000-square-foot sports book.
There will also be multiple gaming, music and nightlife spaces, restaurants, retail and an oversized pool designed for “high-energy parties and gatherings.”
“Atari Hotels was born from the idea that hospitality could be as interactive as gaming itself,” Jordan Taylor, a partner at Intersection Development, said in the press release.
The building, which will be located in Phoenix’s Arts and Entertainment District, was dreamed up in collaboration the studio Räkkhaus, whose initial concepts drew inspiration from popular franchises such as Tron and Blade Runner, creating a “glowing monolith of light and motion.”
“Our goal was to fuse architecture with interaction — not themed design, but pure spatial innovation,” Zac Cohen, creative director at Räkkhaus, said in a statement shared with PEOPLE. “A tower defined by motion, responsive surfaces, and a frame that glows with its own internal logic. This is placemaking at a new scale, a building that will be truly unique in the world.”
The classic Atari log was “re-envisioned” at the front of the building, stretching far up into the sky. A prominent LED-lit breezeway will also be a defining feature of the building as it shifts in color, rhythm and motion based on events, season or time of day.
Hidden easter eggs and subtle nods to classic games will be found throughout. Atari’s Asteroids and Pong and Nintendo’s Tetris will be among those featured in the design. Even the properties 19 suites and 72 rooms symbolizes 1972, the year Atari was founded.
For the high-level gamers, a “Baller Suite” complete with a private pool, spa and sun deck will be available.
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According to the company’s website, $14 million has already been invested into the project. Construction on the project is slated to begin in late 2026 with a projected opening of mid to late 2028.
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