Friendship is the single most important part of the lives of the four main characters in Ready Player One, arguably more important than the OASIS itself. The four friends—Parzival, Art3mis, Shoto, and Aech—start out as adversaries, then become tentative allies and eventually best friends. They meet online in the OASIS, each searching for Halliday's Easter egg (Egg hunters are called gunters). They mutually decide not to team up at first, each believing going it alone is their best option. None of them have much experience having friends outside the OASIS.
Standing there, under the bleak fluorescents of my tiny one-room apartment, there was no escaping the truth. In real life, I was nothing but an antisocial hermit. A recluse. A pale-skinned pop culture–obsessed geek. An agoraphobic shut-in, with no real friends, family, or genuine human contact. I was just another sad, lost, lonely soul, wasting his life on a glorified videogame. But not in the OASIS. In there, I was the great Parzival. World-famous gunter and international celebrity. People asked for my autograph. I had a fan club.
Gradually, trust grows between them. They team up for quests, and Parzival gives Aech clues to help him find the Copper Key. This is repaid in kind later when Parzival needs help finding the Jade Key. At this point they each want to win but would rather a fellow gunter won than the Sixers.
Holding my breath, I opened the message and read it: Dear Parzival, You and I are officially even now, got that? I consider my debt to you hereby paid in full. Better hurry. The Sixers must already be on their way there. Good luck, Aech
They become allies once Daito is killed by the Sixers. The Sixers break into Daito's apartment and throw him out the window. Shoto shares this information with Parzival, and they reveal their true names to each other. This is a turning point in their friendship.
“No,” Shoto said. “Daito did not commit seppuku. I’m sure of it. The Sixers broke into his apartment while we were engaged in combat with them on Frobozz. That’s how they were able to defeat his avatar. By killing him, in the real world.” “I’m sorry, Shoto.” I didn’t know what else to say. I knew he was telling the truth. “My real name is Akihide,” he said. “I want you to know my true name.” I smiled, then bowed, briefly pressing my forehead to the floor. “I appreciate your trusting me with your true name,” I said. “My true name is Wade.” I could no longer see the point in keeping secrets. “Thank you, Wade,” Shoto said, returning the bow. “You’re welcome, Akihide.”
At this point neither believes they will win, and Parzival, at least, contemplates suicide. Then he comes up with a brilliant and risky plan. This plan has the added effect of cementing his friendships. He goes undercover and risks his life to save the others. They then stop holding back information and work together to win the contest.
“Are you guys there?” I said to the empty air a few minutes later. “Yes!” Aech said excitedly. “Can you hear us?” “Yeah. I can now. What happened?” “The system cut off our voice links to you as soon as you entered Halliday’s office. . . . Good job, man.” “Congratulations, Wade,” I heard Art3mis say. And I could tell she meant it too. “Thanks,” I said. “But I couldn’t have done it without you guys.”
When they all meet in the real world, it represents their triumph over both the Sixers and the antisocial world in which they live.
It occurred to me then that for the first time in as long as I could remember, I had absolutely no desire to log back into the OASIS.
The theme of friendship is an important one in Cline's novel. Each of the friendships he delineates is instrumental in driving the protagonist's success. For example, Wade's collaboration with Daito and Shoto in the Shodai Urutoraman quest leads to the trio winning Hayata's Beta Capsule. After Daito's death, Shoto bequeaths the Beta Capsule to Wade. The Capsule is the same artifact that helps Wade defeat Sorrento's Mechagodzilla during the battle at Anorak's Castle.
Meanwhile, Wade's friendship with Aech benefits him in two important ways. First, it is Aech who reveals to Wade the location of the Jade Key on planet Frobozz. Aech's tip allows Wade to make substantial progress towards his goal of finding Halliday's egg. Second, Aech's confidence in Wade's ability to bring down IOI's shield bolsters Wade's confidence and keeps morale high before the battle at Anorak's Castle.
Wade's friendship with Art3mis is also significant, as his drive to succeed partly stems from his desire to win her regard and admiration. Wade's integrity and tenacity so impress Art3mis that she unequivocally devotes her full attention to helping him overcome his Third Gate challenges.
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