Golden Egg

Lore & Background

The golden Easter egg is the central prize of a contest announced by James Halliday after his death. To reach it, a player must first obtain three keys by completing three challenges. The first challenge is an unbeatable race, which Wade Watts, using the avatar Parzival, wins by driving backward, earning the Copper Key directly. The Copper Key then opens the first gate, which includes solving a riddle in the tomb. The second challenge is the 'Shining' simulation, where players must navigate the Overlook Hotel to earn the Jade Key. After obtaining the Jade Key, the second gate features a dance with Kira. The third challenge is inside Castle Anorak on Planet Doom, where players must complete a series of tasks including Joust and Pac-Man, with the 1980 game Adventure as the final step. Parzival locates Warren Robinett's Easter egg as the last part of the third gate, winning the Crystal Key. Using the three keys, Parzival enters a treasure room where Anorak offers him a contract. Parzival recognizes it as the same contract that Ogden Morrow signed when Halliday forced him out, and refuses to sign it. Anorak transforms into Halliday, who expresses his regrets in life and hands over the Easter egg.

In Their Own Story

Wade Watts, an orphaned Gunter from Columbus, Ohio, uses his avatar Parzival to participate in the contest for the golden Easter egg. After winning the Copper Key by driving backward in the first challenge, he and his allies—Art3mis, Aech, Daito, and Sho—form the High-5. They discover clues from Halliday's Journals and survive attacks from IOI. In the final challenge on Planet Doom, Parzival plays Adventure and finds Warren Robinett's Easter egg, winning the Crystal Key. He uses the three keys to enter a treasure room, where he refuses to sign a contract that mirrors the one Halliday forced Morrow to sign. Halliday then appears, expresses his regrets, and hands over the Easter egg. Afterward, Ogden Morrow reveals he is the Curator, and Wade decides to run the OASIS with the High-5, making the controversial choice to close the OASIS every Tuesday and Thursday so people can spend more time in the real world.

Reader's Guide

To obtain the golden Easter egg, a player must complete three challenges to earn three keys: the Copper Key, the Jade Key, and the Crystal Key. The first challenge is an unbeatable race; winning it requires driving backward. The second challenge involves the Distracted Globe night club and requires asking Kira Underwood to dance. The third challenge is on Planet Doom, inside Castle Anorak, where players must guess Halliday's favorite Atari 2600 game—Adventure—and then locate Warren Robinett's Easter egg within that game. Once all three keys are obtained, the player enters a treasure room where they must refuse to sign a contract offered by Anorak. Only then does Halliday appear and hand over the Easter egg, granting ownership of the OASIS.

Did You Know?

• The golden Easter egg is locked behind a gate requiring three keys, which players can obtain by accomplishing three challenges.
• Parzival wins the Crystal Key by playing the 1980 game Adventure and locating Warren Robinett's Easter egg.
• The third challenge is found in Castle Anorak on Planet Doom.
• Parzival refuses to sign a contract in the treasure room, which is the same contract Ogden Morrow signed when Halliday forced him out of Gregarious Games.
• After winning the Easter egg, Wade decides to run the OASIS with the High-5 and closes it every Tuesday and Thursday.