Ready Player One is a 2011 science-fiction novel, and the debut novel by Ernest Cline. The story, set in a dystopian 2044, follows protagonist Wade Watts as he searches for an Easter egg in a virtual reality game, the discovery of which will lead him to inherit a valuable fortune in a world wrecked by an energy crisis. Cline sold the rights to publish the novel in June 2010, in a bidding war to the Crown Publishing Group.
The book was published on August 16, 2011. An audiobook was released the same day, narrated by Wil Wheaton, who was mentioned briefly in one of the chapters.
The film is directed by Steven Spielberg, is currently in production, and stated to premiere in spring 2018.
Interesting side note:
Andy Weir (The Martian) wrote a short piece of fan fiction: