「The World」is the in-fiction game at the center of the .hack series. Throughout the series chronology, there have been several different iterations of the game.

Fragment

Not to be confused with .hack//frägment

The World R:1

SIGN

Is it a game? Or is it a world? “The World” is immersive virtual gaming environment of the future. Millions of players log on each day to test their skills in virtual adventures and battles. But when reality and virtual reality collide, a whole new adventure unfolds.

Welcome back to The World
Once You’re In – You May Never Make it Out^[1]
Tsukasa awakens inside The World, an immense online RPG filled with monsters, magic, and mayhem. When he discovers he’s unable to log out of this mysterious game, he joins forces with a colorful group of characters and begins a desperate quest to find his way back to real life.

Legend of the Twilight Bracelet

What is The World? It's the largest online game in the world, played by 20 million people. Using head-mounted displays, gamers can freely move inside a totally realistic world. There have been problems with the game in the past, but recently it's been trouble-free. More people are joining each day.