Patch

How it is used

Also a verb: they patched the exploit. Teams release, roll out or roll back patches and publish patch notes that list the changes. A small, urgent patch is a hotfix; a patch ready on release day is a day-one patch.

Example sentences

1. The patch fixes the save bug and lowers the price of upgrades.

2. Can you write the patch notes in plain language, not in developer speak?

Common collocations

• release a patch
• patch notes
• day-one patch
• hotfix
• balance patch

Related terms

• bugA mistake in the game that makes it behave in a way it should not, such as a crash, a character falling through the floor or a quest that cannot be finished.
• balanceTo adjust numbers and rules, such as damage, costs and cooldowns, so that no weapon, character or strategy is too strong or too weak compared with the others.
• certificationThe process in which a console maker tests a game against its technical rules before allowing it to be released on its platform.
• live serviceA model in which a game is updated continuously for years after launch with new content, events and seasons, to keep players playing and spending.
• DLCShort for downloadable content: extra content released for a game after it comes out, such as new levels, characters, story chapters or costumes, often sold separately.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

• patch · Software Engineering
• patch · Cybersecurity

More terms: Publishing & Release

• publisher
• platform
• indie
• AAA
• early access
• wishlist
• go gold
• port
• localization
• age rating