Terminology and You: Patches, Hotfixes, Updates, and DLCs in ESO:TU

ThatNeonZebraAgain

Given all the new players and recent changes to the game, I thought this topic needed to be clarified. The terms "patches," "updates," and "DLC" are being thrown around a lot in discussions about the Imperial City, many times seemingly used interchangeably. Because of the frequently misunderstandings of these terms, it is important to be aware that the specific meanings that these terms have for ESO. So, in hopes we can have more informed discussions, here is a guide that should help:

• Patch - Also known as "Minor Patch" or "Incremental Patch." Patches are what are implemented during scheduled weekly maintenance, and mostly contains bug fixes, tweaks to game systems, and, every now and then, a new item, such as the recent experience boosting potions and corresponding recipes and mats. Patches change the last sequence in the game's versioning; for example, going from version 2.0.09 to 2.0.10. Patches are not sent to the PTS for testing before going live.
• Hotfix - Typically done for very minor and time sensitive changes that do not require taking the server offline (e.g. disabling a feature to prevent an exploit). These have been implemented at all hours and days of the week, and so do not adhere to the scheduled maintenance windows (or require PTS testing). Hotfixes may require restarting your game client in order to take effect, but they often do not. It is important to understand the difference in scope between patches and hotfixes, as only very limited kinds of changes can be hotfixed.
• Update - Also known as "Major Update" or "Content Update", and occasionally "Major Patch." Since PC launch through December 2014, these were implemented about every 6 weeks in accordance with ZOS initial development schedule, and contained large amounts of bug fixes, more significant changes to game systems, implementing new systems (e.g. Justice system, Champion Point system, armor dyeing), balancing of abilities/classes/races, or new content (e.g. Veteran dungeons or Craglorn). Since the B2P switch, ZOS has confirmed that Updates will continue to be implemented for free as part of the core game, though at a much more infrequent pace than before the B2P switch (judging by current progress we can guess about 2-3 times a year) . Updates change the middle (or the first, as was the case with the Tamriel Unlimited re-launch) sequence of the game's versioning; for example, 1.3.0 to 1.4.0. The initial version of an Update is always sent to the PTS for testing 2-4 weeks ahead of it going to the live servers. While the Update is on the PTS, patches are often applied to the Update to further hone the stability and balance of the Update itself, and thus changing the versioning sequence again before it goes live. For example, earlier this year Update 1.6.0 received 4 patches while it was being tested on the PTS, and also received more tweaks between the last PTS patch and going live with the latest version 1.6.5. When talking about these "major" Updates to ESO, it is helpful to capitalize the U to distinguish your meaning from the colloquial use of the word (e.g. They really need to update potion-related enchants in the next Update).
• DLC - The newcomer to ESO since the B2P transition. As such, we don't know what these will entail, but they will likely be larger than the Updates but smaller than a typical boxed MMO expansion. In terms of content, from what ZOS has said it appears it will be focused on new zones and itemization that supplement the core game. While we do not have an official definition, the "core game" is assumed to be everything that is in the game until the first DLC is released and also what is included in future patches and Updates. ZOS has stated the game systems that affect the core game and all players, whether new or changes to existing ones, will not be part of DLCs (and here lies the debate with Imperial City and other future changes: Where is the line around the core game?). We do know that areas contained in DLCs can only be accessed if you have an ESO+ subscription or if they allow the ala carte purchasing of DLCs. Given that ZOS has also stated that non-bound items acquired from DLC zones can be traded with players who not have access to those zones, we can surmise that "DLC will always be part of an Update, and that everyone will be required to download it, and the DLC payment itself will enable the access rather than the downloading. This would also corroborate with how ESO Plus members can gain and lose access solely based on their membership status" (quote from @Enodoc). We do not yet know if DLC content will be tested by players on the PTS server, or how they will change the game's versioning sequence.

Hope this helps, and if there are any changes I should add to this post please let me know!

Edit: Updated terminology and DLC info thanks to @Enodoc's suggestions

Nallenil

Very nicely written and explained.

ThatNeonZebraAgain

Nallenil wrote: »

Very nicely written and explained.

Thanks, glad you liked it!

Kazzy56

PS4 EU

Thank you for this. You are of course quite right. There are lots of misunderstandings of the terms and their meanings. Very informative.

Gandrhulf_Harbard

ThatNeonZebraAgain wrote: »

Patches are not sent to the PTS for testing before going live.

The last 10 days shows why they should be.

All The Best

UrQuan

Hmm, someone should really sticky this...

Lenikus

UrQuan wrote: »

Hmm, someone should really sticky this...

Someone fetch my glue

Enodoc

This is a great post. I wanted to add that sometimes an Update will also be called a "Major (Content) Patch", with the defining term here being "Major" (or "Content") considering the repeated use of "Patch", and that usage goes along with "Minor (Incremental) Patch", so you could consider adding to the OP
Patch - Also known as "Minor Patch" or "Incremental Patch".
Update - Also known as "Major Update" or "Content Update", and occasionally "Major Patch".

I also think there's a misconception over how DLCs differ from Updates. Considering that we already know, as you have said, that non-bound items acquired from DLC zones can be traded with players who do not have access to those zones, the items have to exist in the game data of a player who does not have the DLC. Therefore I believe that DLC will always be part of an Update, and that everyone will be required to download it, and the DLC payment itself will enable the access rather than the downloading. This would also corroborate with how ESO Plus members can gain and lose access solely based on their membership status.

MCMancub

As awesome a thread as this is, it unfortunately won't stop the endless amount of threads from confused players.

ThatNeonZebraAgain

Enodoc wrote: »

This is a great post. I wanted to add that sometimes an Update will also be called a "Major (Content) Patch", with the defining term here being "Major" (or "Content") considering the repeated use of "Patch", and that usage goes along with "Minor (Incremental) Patch", so you could consider adding to the OP
Patch - Also known as "Minor Patch" or "Incremental Patch".
Update - Also known as "Major Update" or "Content Update", and occasionally "Major Patch".

I also think there's a misconception over how DLCs differ from Updates. Considering that we already know, as you have said, that non-bound items acquired from DLC zones can be traded with players who do not have access to those zones, the items have to exist in the game data of a player who does not have the DLC. Therefore I believe that DLC will always be part of an Update, and that everyone will be required to download it, and the DLC payment itself will enable the access rather than the downloading. This would also corroborate with how ESO Plus members can gain and lose access solely based on their membership status.

Thanks! Updated the OP to reflect your observations.