This anime series in the .hack// universe is set in the near future after a fire wipes out a game played by millions. With all the information about "The World" lost, a new version of the game surfaces: "The World R:2." As people join the game, they learn that it's not like "The World" they remember, but it still strains the boundary between game and reality. .HACK//ROOTS centers on Haseo, a new player who finds "The World R:2" is more than just a game.