Chapter Text
In 2045, control over the OASIS was passed to a group of teenagers called the High Five, after its leader, Wade Watts (aka Parzival), completed the creator James Halliday's challenges. Innovative Online Industries (IOI) was also trying for control, but the company failed, and its creator, Nolan Sorrento, was put into prison for the attempted murder of Watts. However, his second in command, Marcus Smith, was not convicted, though he was involved. Smith was Sorrento's best friend growing up, so he desired revenge, as well as the money that IOI should have gotten.
It was then that Smith took control of what was left of IOI and created a plan.
He had their team of expert hackers create a virus that could be inserted into the OASIS directly, and would slowly erase all of its fundamental coding, destroying it. They called it a Black Hole. One of their agents snuck into Gregarious Games' headquarters and successfully inserted the virus into the coding of the OASIS.
If they couldn't have the OASIS, then no one should have it.
But apparently, Halliday put one hell of a firewall on the game, and though the virus was almost indestructible, it would take years to break through the firewall. So they shoved it into an unknown corner of the OASIS, where it would never be found... until it got through, that is.
The company continued to thrive, still manufacturing visors and haptics. People avoided buying from them for obvious reasons, but they also bought out several smaller companies in secret. And of course, the Oology Division was still there, too, but it was hidden.
Smith was certain that IOI would succeed, and the event did have a very high chance of taking place. Sure, the repercussions would be terrible (he'd be put in jail, the company would disperse, etc.) but at least they'd have their revenge.