If you’ve played The Witcher 3, you are undoubtedly familiar with the first sight upon Geralt’s entrance to the Velen region—The Hanged Man’s Tree. Turns out, that very tree was inspired by a real tree growing outside CD Projekt Red’s Warsaw offices. The oak, now officially named “Oak Geralt,” has gained the status of a natural monument in Poland, and with it, protection of the law.
The decision came as a result of a petition started by the Warsaw councilor Jan Mencwel (who announced the news on his X account) and the certified guide, forest enthusiast Mateusz Nowicki. The petition garnered around 50,000 signatures and garnered direct support from the developers of The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077. On top of being featured in the game, the tree was up for consideration thanks to not only an impressive size, but also its vitality and foliage which, according to the text of the petition, is uncommon among trees growing in urban conditions
Of course, real life locations are an inspiration for many video games, and their successes often give back in unique ways. For example, many locations featured in last year’s Game of the Year nominee Kingdom Come Deliverance II saw a sizable increase in tourism, according to the official site of the CzechTourism Agency. Elsewhere, the famous Notre Dame cathedral, prominently featured in Assassin’s Creed Unity, received a donation from Ubisoft for its renovations (not, as the myth says, being renovated based on their scans and the in-game model), while tools that were part of Epic Game’s Unreal Engine assisted in the process.
Now, a video game was able to give back to nature by helping in the protection of one, impressive tree. Will Oak Geralt become a popular tourist destination for Witcher fans? Only time can tell. The location is not far from other popular spots in Warsaw, such as the Warsaw Zoo. Perhaps when the rumored Witcher 3 DLC drops, sending us all back into another new playthrough, we’ll all start thinking about booking a trip. For more Witcher news, stay tuned to GameObserver.
