The Latest In Atari Bullshit Features Cryptocurrency

Atari, the game company known for the naissance of gaming as we know it, has been on quite a divergent path these last few years. Once known for classic releases dating all the way back to Pong, the game company has recently been using its brand recognition to dip into cryptocurrency. In its latest announcement, Atari revealed a partnership with Litecoin, one of the many crypto options available.

Litecoin will become available for those who want to purchase Atari Tokens. These aren't tokens like those in an arcade but rather Atari's own cryptocurrency, currently in the process of release. Atari Tokens are managed by a company called Atari Chain, a subsidiary that hails from Gibraltar. Gibraltar is used as a base by offshore companies because it requires no physical presence from which to operate, and the region doesn't collect certain taxes from non-residents, making it a haven for tax dodgers.

In addition to trading one cryptocurrency for the next, Litecoin can also be used within "the Atari ecosystem" to purchase the Atari VCS, the company's attempt to bring back a console of some sort. This one runs Linux for additional development, unlike other nostalgia items like an NES Classic. Using Litecoin will allow consumers to buy the Atari VCS at a discount.

Finally, Litecoin will also be an eligible payment method for Atari Casino. The name is exactly what it sounds like an online casino that allows people to gamble from anywhere in the world, leveraged by Atari's brand names like Asteroids.

All of these ventures are upcoming, mind you: the Tokens, the console, and the Casino. You can absolutely invest now, but you'll have to wait for the results at a later date. And you thought those Speakerhats that tied in with the movie Blade Runner 2049 were odd. Yes, those are hats with speakers in them, which retail for €149.99, though you can currently cop some for the sale price of just €109.99.

Currently, Litecoin trades for around 40 euros, making it the seventh most valuable digital currency. That worth, however, is dictated by market cap. In raw price, Litecoin charts tenth.

Admittedly, there's a weird fascination with what Atari will do next. Every idea sounds more outlandish than the next.