Bug fixing, just like feature prioritization, needs its own backlog! And like features, you need a method to prioritize it. Here are some parameters you can include in your calculations to determine the severity of a bug: ? How many users are affected by this bug? ? How annoying is this bug? Does it ruin the game experience, or is its impact negligible? ? Does this bug relate to purchases, currency, or user achievements? These are critical! ? Does this bug affect fairness in a multiplayer game by giving someone an unfair advantage over others? You can easily postpone fixing some bugs to a later time, but some need to be addressed immediately, even if it means delaying the launch!

If critical bugs appear before launch, inform your team and assess the issue’s impact. Decide whether to delay or launch with a fix plan. If delaying, resolve and test thoroughly. If launching, inform players, provide workarounds, and release a quick patch. Monitor player feedback post-launch and update them on fixes. Finally, analyze how the bug was missed and improve testing to prevent future issues. This ensures transparency, player trust, and game quality.

When critical bugs surface before launch, it’s all about triage and transparency. Assemble the team and prioritize fixes—what’s a must-have versus a nice-to-have? Focus on game-breaking issues first. Communicate clearly with stakeholders and players—acknowledge the problem, share your plan, and emphasize quality over speed. If needed, delay the launch and frame it as a commitment to delivering the best experience. A crisis handled well can turn disaster into trust-building. Remember, players will forgive a delay but not a broken game.

Of course prioritize is the key. But it depends how big are the bugs. If they are too critical the best practice may be delayed launch or even narrow the escope of the project.

If major bugs appear before launch, the first step is to find and fix the most serious ones. The team should work quickly while keeping players informed about the issue and the progress. If possible, small updates (hotfixes) can be released to solve urgent problems. But if the bugs are too big, delaying the launch might be the best option to ensure a smooth gaming experience. During this time, thorough testing is important to prevent new issues. Once the game is stable, regular updates should be provided based on player feedback to keep the game running well and maintain trust.