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The moment you stepped into Aisle 5, the energy hit first — controllers clicking, matches starting up, music rolling, and people crowding around setups ready to play or watch. Aisle 5’s HUGE LED stage screen pulled you into the Tekken tournament. Before you knew it, you were cheering at the skilled combos while laughing with the person next to you. It felt like a gaming hub dropped right into the middle of Atlanta.
Clusters of people grouped up at stations — some there to sweat it out in matches, others just vibing, talking, and playing casually. Music blended into the sound of the games, keeping the room moving as the crowd grew.
“This is what gaming in the city is supposed to feel like,” said Blake Carter, the founder who sparked the original social plan for the event during COVID. “In person. Real energy. No pressure — just show up and join in.”
For Blake, the spark for Cartridge ATL was rooted in the way gaming used to feel.
“Growing up, gaming meant going to your friend’s house and sitting on the couch,” he explained. “Your homie had the new game, the new system—you’d sit, play, talk trash. When gaming moved online, it became impersonal. The headset replaced real connection.”
Cartridge ATL exists to reclaim that feeling: real people, in real rooms, building real relationships.
Whether someone walks in ready to compete or just wants a drink and a round of Mario Kart, the founders say the atmosphere does the work.
“It takes all kinds,” Blake said. “Introverts, creatives, hardcore gamers, people who haven’t picked up a controller in years—everyone fits. And conversations just happen. Friendships happen. Networking happens. It’s organic.”
Willie Williams Jr., aka Havntr, stayed locked in at the production table; mixers, screens, and gear laid out across a flat setup that kept the whole show running smoothly. “I started as the DJ,” he said, “then we saw how big this could get. Now it’s production, tech, the whole operation.” Havntr has a background in video engineering. After a couple of events, he realized the idea had legs.
“I was like, nah, I’m in,” Havntr said. “Between Blake ’s gaming setups and my equipment, we already had everything we needed to build something bigger.”
And Simoñ John Thomas pulled the brand identity together: “We wanted a space that feels open. Competitive players, casual players, people who don’t even game heavy — everyone should be able to find their place here.”
Cartridge ATL vs Friendly Fire
As interest grew, the founders realized two distinct communities were forming:
Cartridge ATL
A social gaming experience— chill-vibe-driven, accessible, and rooted in connection. People come to game casually, meet new friends, enjoy music, and feel part of a community.
Friendly Fire
A competitive arm where players battle it out in structured tournaments with cash prizes. Turnout ranges from 16 to 30+ people depending on the pot—and players bring everything from pro controllers to full cosplay.
“You need both lanes,” Simoñ said. “Some days you want to sweat over combos. Other days you want to throw a turtle shell at someone and laugh.”
Cartridge ATL has already scaled with partnerships like DreamHack, RevolFest, and Mountain Dew, but the core stays the same; clean production, strong gameplay, and a room full of people ready to play.
When asked about the long-term vision for Cartridge ATL, the founders compare it to the games they love.
“There’s no final boss,” Blake said. “No ceiling. Every level teaches you something. You grow, you pivot, you add features. As long as we’re building community, we’re doing it right.”
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