In the movie, it's implied that the Anorak and Halliday in the OASIS are more than they appear. At the end of the movie, Halliday acknowledges that he is not an avatar and James Halliday is really dead, but dodges Wade's question of what he really is.

What is Halliday at the end?

The castle transforms into a child's bedroom, and Halliday appears as a virtual version of himself, presting Parzival with both a big red button that will wipe the OASIS clean and a golden egg. As the egg flickers in his hands, Parzival's real-world friends can see its glow even outside of the OASIS.

Is James Halliday real?

Ready Player One posits a future where billionaire James Halliday creates a virtual world that encompasses every form of gaming. He's actually inspired by a real-life game developer who made a fortune off of his games: Richard Garriott.