Hotfix

A hotfix is a small, urgent update a developer pushes out quickly to fix a serious bug, exploit, or balance issue without waiting for the next scheduled patch. Hotfixes target one specific problem, and many can be applied on the server side without players downloading anything.

They are common in live-service games, where a game-breaking glitch or an overpowered item needs to be addressed within hours rather than weeks. Unlike a full patch, a hotfix is narrow in scope and rarely adds new content. Quick hotfixes are a good sign that a game is actively maintained and supported.