Posted on: January 16, 2026, 04:58h.
Last updated on: January 16, 2026, 04:58h.
The plans for a video game-themed hotel in Las Vegas have officially come to an end. Atari has decided to discontinue its proposal for a 400-room Strip hotel that may have included a casino.
Pitfall!
Atari initially rolled out this venture in January 2020, shortly before the pandemic struck, 37 years after it released its last major hit, the iconic 1982 game Mario Bros. Along with development partners True North Studio and GSD Group, Atari aimed to establish hotels featuring its branding in Las Vegas and seven other U.S. locations.
By the following year, architectural plans had already been crafted by the firm Gensler, based in San Diego.
The vision presented on atarihotels.com featured a resort concept that promised to be “a contemporary hospitality experience inspired by gaming culture,” aiming to “honor the past while shaping the future.”
This hotel was set to feature themed experiences influenced by beloved games like 1977’s Space Invaders, 1978’s Breakout, 1979’s Adventure, 1980’s Missile Command, 1981’s Pitfall!, and 1982’s classic titles Pac-Man and Mario Bros.
As recently as January 2024, Atari was still actively searching for potential land partners to secure 5 to 7 acres in proximity to the Strip.
Waka Waka Downfall
On January 16, a representative from Atari informed KVVU-TV/Las Vegas that the company is “not currently pursuing a project in Las Vegas.” With this announcement, the focus now shifts towards their first confirmed project in Phoenix, which is projected to open by 2028.
Founded in 1972 in Sunnyvale, California by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney, Atari’s innovative team included a young Steve Jobs working as a technician in 1974, creating arcade games and home consoles that significantly impacted the nascent gaming industry.
Following several ownership transitions, the brand was acquired in 2008 by French company Infogrames, which is keen on revitalizing the Atari brand amid the expanding retro gaming market.
While companies like Nintendo, Sony PlayStation, and Microsoft Xbox have surpassed Atari in technology and sales, the nostalgic affection for the Atari name remains strong among Gen-Xers, 67% of whom still enjoy gaming.