Should I be able to roll back a game update?

Yes, having rollback capability is important, because when an update breaks something badly, rolling back to the last known-good build is the fastest way to stop the damage while you fix properly, and having no rollback means a bad update keeps hurting players while you scramble. Rollback is your safety net for bad updates: if an update introduces a serious regression or is broadly broken, reverting to the previous stable build immediately returns players to a working experience, stopping the bleeding, then you fix the issue without the pressure of a live bad build. Without rollback, your only option is fixing forward under pressure, which is slower and riskier, and the bad update keeps affecting players the whole time. A rollback plan requires knowing which previous build is good (so you do not roll back to another flawed one) and being able to deploy it. Bugnet's per-version crash tracking confirms which previous build was good (the rollback target, low crash rate) and that the rollback worked (the crash rate returning to that build's level), so you can roll back a bad update with confidence and verify players are back on a working version, which is why a rollback plan is important for any updating game.

When should I roll back instead of fixing forward?

Roll back when the update is broadly broken, the issue is severe and widespread, or you cannot fix it quickly, where reverting stops the damage fastest; fix forward when you can resolve the issue with a fast targeted hotfix. Both reverse a bad update, and the choice depends on how broken it is and how fast you can fix it. Roll back when the build is broadly broken (many issues, high crash rate), the issue is severe and widespread (a game-breaker hitting many players), or the fix will take time, rolling back immediately returns players to a working build, stopping the bleeding while you fix properly. Fix forward (hotfix) when the issue is specific and you can fix it fast (a clear cause, a contained fix), resolving it without losing the update's content. When in doubt with a severe, widespread issue you cannot immediately fix, roll back first, fix properly second. Bugnet's per-version data shows how broadly a build broke things and how severe the issues are (informing the decision), and its captured context helps you gauge whether a fast forward-fix is feasible, so you can choose the path that stops the damage fastest, then verify whichever you chose resolved the issue.

How do I know which version to roll back to?

Roll back to the most recent build with a confirmed-low crash rate, which you know from per-version stability data, rather than guessing. A common rollback mistake is reverting to a previous build without knowing whether it was actually stable, you might roll back to another flawed version. With per-version crash tracking, you can see each build's crash rate and stability, so you identify the most recent build that was confirmed good (low, stable crash rate, no major issues) as your rollback target, returning players to a genuinely working version. After rolling back, confirm the crash rate returned to that build's good level, verifying the rollback worked. This is far more reliable than guessing. Bugnet tracks crash rate per version, so you can see which previous builds were stable and choose the right rollback target (the most recent confirmed-good build), then verify the rollback restored that stability, so your rollback returns players to a known-working version rather than another problematic one, and you know it worked rather than assuming, which is how you choose the right version to roll back to.

Do You Need a Rollback Plan?

Quick answer: Yes, if you ship updates you need a rollback plan, when an update breaks something badly, rolling back is the fastest way to stop the damage while you fix properly.

A rollback plan is your safety net for the day an update breaks your game. Here is whether you need a rollback plan.

Why You Need It: Stop the Bleeding Fast

The reason you need a rollback plan is that when an update breaks something badly, rolling back to the last known-good build immediately stops the damage, returning players to a working version while you fix the issue without time pressure. Without rollback, a bad update keeps hurting players while you scramble to fix forward.

Bugnet's per-version data confirms which previous build was good (the rollback target) and that the rollback worked, so you can revert a bad update fast and verify players are back on a working version.

What It Requires: Knowing Your Good Builds

A rollback plan requires knowing which previous build is good to roll back to, and being able to deploy it. Rolling back to another flawed build does not help, so you need per-version stability data to identify a confirmed-good rollback target.

Bugnet tracks crash rate per version, so you can see which previous build had a low crash rate (the safe rollback target) and confirm the rollback restored that stability, rather than guessing.

When You Need It: Any Game That Updates

You need a rollback plan for any game that ships updates, since any update can introduce a serious regression. The more you update, the more likely you will need to roll back eventually, so having the plan and capability ready before you need it is what makes it useful.

Bugnet's per-version tracking supports rollback for any updating game, identifying the good target and confirming the rollback, so you can roll back fast whenever an update breaks something.

Yes, if you ship updates you need a rollback plan, when an update breaks something badly, rolling back is the fastest way to stop the damage while you fix properly. Having no rollback means a bad update keeps hurting players.