Hotfix

A hotfix is a fast, targeted fix for a pressing issue. Where a normal patch may bundle many changes and go through weeks of testing, a hotfix addresses one or a few urgent problems and goes out as soon as it is ready. The word comes from wider software development, where it originally meant a fix applied to a system while it was still running.

What triggers a hotfix

Typical reasons include crashes that stop people playing, bugs that corrupt save files, exploits that let players gain items or advantages unfairly, server problems, and balance issues so severe that waiting for the next scheduled update would spoil the game. A new character who turns out to be wildly overpowered may receive a hotfix nerf within days.

Client-side and server-side

Some hotfixes need you to download an update. Others are made entirely on the developer’s servers, especially in online games, so they take effect without any download at all. That is why an online game can sometimes change from one match to the next without you noticing an update. Server-side changes are generally limited to settings the game already reads from the server, such as numbers for damage or drop rates.

Because hotfixes are rushed, they occasionally introduce new problems of their own, leading to a follow-up fix. Developers usually announce hotfixes on their official news pages or social channels, sometimes with shorter notes than for full patches.

What players should do

If you hear about a game-breaking bug, it is usually best to avoid the affected feature until a hotfix arrives, particularly anything that could damage your save. And if you have accidentally benefited from an exploit, be aware that online games sometimes remove items obtained through it once it is fixed.