Ernest Cline's sequel to his popular 2011 novel, Ready Player One -- aptly named Ready Player Two -- will be partnering with popular online video game Roblox to help celebrate the launch of his new book.
Fans will be able to jump into Roblox to partake in an in-game treasure hunt that takes place across seven games and will award thousands of players with Ready Player Two-themed items and prizes. Interested gamers can participate from Dec. 1 at 10 AM (PST), with events being kickstarted by an exclusive Q&A session between Cline and Roblox's Builderman that may contain more than one clue to help treasure hunters get started with their journey.
In its official announcement, Roblox set forth the following challenge: "Roblox and Ready Player Two are calling Gunters back into action for an epic treasure hunt that spans seven games and awards thousands of winners with cool prizes. Do you have what it takes to crack the clues and become one of the grand prize winners? There's only one way to find out."
Some exclusive game badges that Roblox have shared include the Ready Player Two book, which players can obtain by simply entering the Ready Player Two hub. Gamers also get a t-shirt for their avatar with this unlockable. META shades can be claimed by all players who collect seven "mys7erious relics," scattered and hidden across Roblox and return them to the Hub. The META star can only be unlocked by the first 77 players who collect the seven relics and return them. Finally, the METAphones are available to the first 777 players to collect seven relics and get them back to the Hub.
Roblox and Warner Bros. previously worked together in 2018 to host a similar online event for Steven Spielberg's blockbuster adaptation of Ready Player One. CEO and founder of Roblox, Dave Baszucki, stated, "The event we did on Roblox in 2018 for the Ready Player One movie had over 13 million people participate. I think it's fair to say this is going to be even bigger." Cline added, "Roblox is the closest thing to the Oasis in real life, and this contest is the closest thing to the treasure hunt in my book."
The events of Ready Player Two take place shortly after Ready Player One ends and follows Wade Watts/Parzival as he discovers another Easter egg hidden in the digital OASIS by its creator James Halliday. Wade and friends embark on an adventure to stop an adversary "who'll kill millions to get what he wants."
Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline is on sale now.
Source: Deadline