Ready Player One Summary

In 2045, the world is ravaged by environmental devastation, warfare, and poverty and most people seek respite in the OASIS, a vast online virtual universe with countless landscapes and activities. James Halliday, the deceased creator of the OASIS, posthumously announces a competition wherein he will bequeath control of the OASIS and his multibillion-dollar corporation to the first person who can discover his hidden virtual 'Easter egg'. One of the contestants is Wade Watts, an impoverished high school student living in a trailer park in Oklahoma City. Despite the lack of significant progress since the contest's announcement, Wade, his friend Aech, and many others continue to relentlessly search for the elusive prize. Eventually, Wade, under his online persona Parzival, manages to locate the first clue, the Copper Key, propelling him into overnight fame. He encounters a rival yet enchanting competitor named Art3mis, as well as corporate mercenaries, the 'Sixers', who resort to deadly real-world tactics to secure the prize.

Struggling to find the next clue, the Jade Key, Wade deepens his relationship with Art3mis, declaring his love for her, only to be rejected. His peers, including the Sixers, successfully secure the Jade Key, but a tip from Aech helps Wade keep pace. The Sixers, however, advance further and obtain the Crystal Key, the final clue. After being informed that the Sixers have killed one of their own in the physical world, Wade clears the second stage and also acquires the Crystal Key. Upon discovering the location of the final challenge, Wade is thwarted by an impenetrable barrier erected by the Sixers and begins to devise a risky plan.

In the final stage, Wade infiltrates the Sixers by posing as a prisoner in their industrial complex. Using his computing expertise, he amasses evidence of their illegal activities and orchestrates circumstances that enable his group to access the final challenge. After freeing himself, he alerts his friends and leaks the Sixers' misdemeanors to various media outlets. In a climactic face-off, an army of players battles the Sixers outside the final gate. Wade, aided by Ogden Morrow, Halliday’s former business associate, survives the onslaught and completes the ultimate challenge. Upon winning, he divides the spoils with his allies and finally meets Art3mis in person. They share a tender moment, marking the end of Wade's obsession with the virtual world.