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Westworld's hidden trailer isn't just a trailer, it's a Door to more

Ahead of season 2 of the HBO show, the Discover Westworld and Delos sites are coming alive. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Caitlin Petrakovitz Director of audience
Caitlin Petrakovitz studies the Marvel Cinematic Universe like it's a course in school, with an emphasis on the Infinity Saga years. As an audience expert, she rarely writes but when she does it's most certainly about Star Trek, Marvel, DC, Westworld, San Diego Comic-Con and great streaming properties. Or soccer, that's a thing she loves, too.
Caitlin Petrakovitz
4 min read
Screenshot by Caitlin Petrakovitz/CNET

Much like the hosts themselves, several "Westworld"-related sites have starting behaving poorly. Is this the budding ARG we've come to expect from HBO and the showrunners? We know Delos is huge, but how deep does the rabbit hole really go? Seems like we're getting our first look. We've learned the second season is titled The Door, leading us to believe the hidden trailer within the trailer is really just a sign of more to come (that is, if we're willing to step inside). 

Let's go over what we have so far.

Editors' note, April 2: ShogunWorld is officially official with a description and everything, so I've added a whole new section up top. Everything else remains unchanged (sadly), for now. 

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Delos Destinations is expanding

After a silly April Fools' joke adding worlds like Hotlantis, Metalworld, Shermer High (a nice Breakfast Club nod), Hemingworld, Cremastoria, and Triassic Park (with the note, "Pending litigation."), it seems ShogunWorld is the only one really sticking around. Guess we're back to brainstorming those others. 

The description on Delos Destinations remains for that experience and reads: 

For those for whom Westworld is not enough, the true connoisseur of gore can indulge their fantasies with the slash of a katana. Modeled after Japan's Edo period, Shogun World offers a chance for guests to embrace their inner warrior, in a landscape of highest beauty and darkest horror. Let your true self take shape in the land where self-discovery is an art form.

Hidden trailer in the trailer

After watching Thursday's official full-length trailer for season 2, Reddit users found a hidden code. 

The code links to a new Delos Incorporated page titled "Freedom," and it looks like a fancy company trailer video, full of words and phrases like "bespoke," "better than real" and the forever-classic "Life without limits" tagline we've all come to know.  Click the link to see it on the Delos site, or watch here:

Discover Westworld is having a 'recall' 

For now, the Westworld visitor site loads to an opaque black screen displaying this message:

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Screenshot by Caitlin Petrakovitz/CNET

Over that message you hear a voice, possibly Logan (Ben Barnes) or young William (Jimmi Simpson) saying, "Your world was built for me. People like me, not for you." And Dolores (Evan Rachel Wood) replying, "Then someone ought to burn it clean." 

(Reddit users say it's the exchange from season 1, episode 9, but I think it looks and sounds more like William. See? OK, try this one.)

In any case, clicking Recall on the page takes you to what, at first, looks like the normal Westworld visit page. Glitches quickly take over, though, and you get a look at some bits of the new trailer, as well as some of Aeden's issues. 

Then comes the fun part. If you can get "past" the loop of the two talking, you get the real treasures. (Update: You can toggle the glitches by pressing Shift.) 

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First, Aeden pops in.

Screenshot by Caitlin Petrakovitz/CNET
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This used to say "Life without Limits."

Screenshot by Caitlin Petrakovitz/CNET
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Then, chaos. Pay careful attention to that wording.

Screenshot by Caitlin Petrakovitz/CNET

The following screens show that the hosts are firmly in control now. Where previously there were informational screens about what you could expect when you visit the park, now there are only seriously threatening messages. 

ESCAPE: We evolved. The experience evolved. We rule this world now.

FREEDOM: For us, a change. I wouldn't expect any for you. You squandered what little you had.

THRILLS: They were right: there is no theme for this park. The action is real. The stakes are real. And now no one is safe. 

POWER: Your impulses have proven to be your downfall. We're in control in ways you never can be.

At the bottom is a map that used to be informative and now pulses a scary red throughout the entire park. 

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You can still click on certain places to see more about the location.

Screenshot by Caitlin Petrakovitz/CNET

As for the reservations screen, one user shared this lovely, inspiring screenshot. 

Delos is leaking

Like a sieve. Another Reddit user found Charlotte Hale's password in the code of the main Delos page (XOMEGACH). Entering it on the Delos main page opens up a Restricted section of the Delos Incorporated site, where you'll see a blue door modeled after the same one guests walk through onto the train to Westworld.

Once inside, there's a "room" full of blue dots.

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Click the (+), trust me.

Screenshot by Caitlin Petrakovitz/CNET

By my count, there are 16 dots. But the only dot currently unlocked is titled "ABERNATHY.MP4." It doesn't dive into much, or even show more than a login screen, but the key takeaway here is that the short video ends with the phrase "Find Peter Abernathy" (Dolores' original father, in case you've forgotten).

Well, that's all I've found for now. Have you seen more? I'll be back with updates as as I see them, so stay tuned. In the meantime, be sure to subscribe here to our Monday newsletters dedicated solely to Westworld and writing by yours truly. 

This piece was originally published March 30, and is updated as fast as Aeden and the hosts are taking over. (Find cover. Stay safe.) 

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