How do you prioritize bugs and issues in game updates?

1 Assess the impact

The first step to prioritize bugs and issues is to assess their impact on the game and the players. How severe is the bug? Does it cause crashes, freezes, or errors? Does it affect the game logic, mechanics, or rules? Does it give an unfair advantage or disadvantage to some players or teams? Does it compromise the security or privacy of the game or the players? The higher the impact, the higher the priority.

2 Categorize the type

The next step is to categorize the type of bug or issue. Different types of bugs and issues may require different approaches and solutions. For instance, Gameplay bugs can cause glitches, exploits, or inconsistencies in the game. Performance bugs may cause lag, stuttering, or crashes in the game. Cosmetic bugs may result in visual or audio defects, missing or misplaced elements, or wrong information in the game. Security bugs can lead to breaches, hacks, or cheats in the game. Moreover, the type of bug or issue may determine the level of urgency, complexity, and effort needed to fix it.

3 Assign a priority

The final step is to assign a priority to each bug or issue based on the impact and the type. A common way to do this is to use a priority matrix that ranks bugs and issues from high to low priority according to two criteria: importance and urgency. Importance measures how much the bug or issue affects the game's quality, functionality, or reputation, while urgency considers how soon it needs to be fixed before it causes more damage or dissatisfaction. For example, high priority bugs and issues must be fixed as soon as possible, preferably in the next update; these are likely game-breaking problems, major gameplay imbalances, or serious security risks. Medium priority bugs and issues are important but can wait for the next update; these may cause moderate gameplay issues, minor performance issues, or cosmetic issues that affect the game's appeal. Low priority bugs and issues are minor and can be fixed later or not at all; they may cause negligible gameplay issues, performance issues that only affect some players or platforms, or cosmetic issues that do not affect the game's appeal. By assigning a priority to each bug or issue, you can better manage your time, resources, and expectations when dealing with game updates and patches.

4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?