The Next-Gen Update for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has added a wide list of items and improvements to the game, but the ability for Geralt to pet Roach might be a fan-favorite feature in the free DLC. When CD Projekt Red released The Witcher 3's Next-Gen Update, it brought Wild Hunt back into the limelight, and though the update has had some technical issues at launch, Witcher fans seem to be enjoying their time as Geralt exploring the war-torn lands of the Northern Kingdoms in search of Ciri.
This long journey wouldn't be possible without Geralt's trusty steed, who has a few surprises of her own in the Next-Gen Update. Roach in The Witcher 3 has gotten plenty of upgrades in the new DLC, as she can now walk backwards, perform a kick during combat, and is overall a lot more reactive compared to her original version. Though the main purpose of the update has arguably been to improve The Witcher 3's graphical fidelity, the real treasure can be found in its quality-of-life changes.
Players can now pet Roach by holding down the jump button, letting Geralt express the deep appreciation he has for his favorite traveling companion. The discovery was made by Parry Fisher, who shared a video of the new feature on the original subreddit for the Witcher franchise. Fans were quick to point out how Geralt's petting animation reminded them of Arthur Morgan from Red Dead Redemption 2, though there are only so many ways for someone to pet a horse that the animation must be purely coincidental.
Since the Next-Gen Update for The Witcher 3 is free, any player can update their game to the newest DLC and enjoy petting Roach to their heart's content. Another important part of the Next-Gen Update is its collaboration with The Witcher on Netflix, as Geralt can get his hands on the iconic armor worn by Henry Cavill in both seasons of the show. For fans in want of something different, they can also toggle the appearance of Nilfgaardian armor into the infamous version seen in Season 1 of the Netflix adaptation.
Though this update has been a love letter to the Witcher fandom and the game that made them industry giants, the developers at CD Projekt Red have turned their gaze towards the future, developing the setting for the next Witcher game on Unreal Engine 5. It may be a while until the team is ready to discuss the sequel properly, so until then, players will have to be content with roaming through the countryside of Velen with Roach by their side.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
