Video Game Fixes That Only Made Things Worse

In the modern age of gaming, patches and updates have become extremely commonplace. Whether they add more content, balance various items and abilities, or fix game-breaking and enjoyment-hindering bugs, patches are pretty much a given at this point. However, despite all the best intentions, there are aspects of the update system that have become a sore spot for many gamers. Generally, players have become jaded, or else worried that companies will default to releasing unfinished or sloppy games with the intention of fixing them with updates down the line. 

Sometimes a steady flow of updates can turn a game around, as in the case of "Cyberpunk 2077." However, one aspect of updates that fans rarely talk about is the potential they have to unintentionally ruin the games they're meant to fix. While updates typically make games better, developers aren't perfect individuals. Whether they introduce a new game-breaking bug, horribly ruin the balance of PvP, or make fan-favorite playstyles obsolete, sometimes "fixing" a game is actually the best way to mess it up. Even removing something that is considered a bug may blemish the experience for devoted fans in the long run. Here are some examples of video game fixes that only ended up making things worse.

Here's a wild example of a patch that not only broke the game it was trying to improve, but actually put players in potential danger. While Crystal Dynamic's "Marvel's Avengers" wasn't the most beloved game in existence, the game still had a dedicated fanbase that stuck around as long as possible, which warranted frequent patching. These patches ranged from simple gameplay fixes to completely new characters and maps. For PS5 players, the 1.8.0 patch added an unexpected feature that fans were definitely unhappy to see. This patch introduced a bug to the game that leaked players' IP addresses during gameplay. This meant that any content creator trying to stream the game would have their IP address exposed to anyone who viewed their stream on Twitch or other platforms.

Players were rightfully upset about this bug, especially since the official response from the team behind the game was less than stellar. The game's official account on X (formerly Twitter) posted, "We're aware of the issue where a floating string of text appears on the screen and are investigating." However, fans thought that this was severely underselling the issue, with one responding, "Floating string of text. You are joking yeah? It's people's IP addresses. Come on." In the end, while this issue was quickly fixed, the gaffe left a sour taste in players' mouths.

In a similar case to the "Palworld" controversy, sometimes game glitches can benefit the game's speedrunning community. A classic example of this the BLJ in "Super Mario 64," a glitch that allows Mario to gain large amounts of speed by jumping backwards on sloped surfaces. If done correctly, Mario could eventually gain enough momentum to fly past doors that are normally locked. Although casual players would never imagine using the technique, a speedrunner could use the BLJ to skip large portions of the game. "Cuphead" has similarly been a favorite among speedrunning communities. To make the game go by faster, runners discovered a wide variety of glitches that could kill difficult bosses in no time flat. However, not too long after the game's release, the community was dismayed to see many of their favorite exploits removed, including a rapid-weapon-swap damage glitch and the ability to create a literal Mugman army.

One fan remarked that the glitch runs were "fun while [they] lasted." Thankfully, a mod for the speedrunning board revealed that de-patching the game was possible and would be an option for original speedruns of the game. The removed glitches weren't bad news for every fan, with some taking the update as an opportunity to start speedrunning "Cuphead," without needing to learn a laundry list of difficult and complex glitches. This goes to show that even if a patch ruins the game for some players, there will still be those who welcome these fixes.

Yet another game that alienated its speedrunning community with a patch is "Halo 2," specifically the version from the "Master Chief Collection." Speedrunners were dismayed when a number of fun physics-based speed techniques were removed only a few years ago. Given the fact that "Halo 2" is nearly two decades old, fans thought that its longtime glitches were safe from harm. However, during the Season 8 update of the "Master Chief Collection," 343 Industries fixed high-speed collision issues and removed the slide jump tech, a move that allowed players to gain extra height and speed on a jump after sliding down a sloped surface. With these changes alone, reaching certain world record times is now impossible without attempting to de-patch the game.

Overall, although it seems like 343 industries solved many of the game's issues here, there are actually more pressing bugs that players wish the company had fixed instead. Players noted that it was bizarre that many other bits of broken physics were left in the game, including swordflys, a glitch that increases the range of the Energy Sword's dash attack. Other fans noted that some cutscenes are still bugged to the point of breaking the game, yet these haven't been fixed. While fixing these bugs hasn't impacted every player personally, it seems many fans believe that 343 Industries' resources could have been put to better use somewhere else.

"Star Wars: Galaxies" was an MMORPG meant to accurately allow players to live out virtual lives in the "Star Wars" universe, with in-depth and complicated professions ranging from Bounty Hunter to Entertainer. Sadly, the game was all but ruined when the developers added New Game Enhancements, which severely limited the complexity and depth of the game. Before, players could make complex and in-depth builds by leveling through unique skill trees, leading to almost endless possibilities for character customization. Although it can seem daunting at first, the original concept of the game made it stand out from other MMOs and "Star Wars" media. However, after the patch, many felt as if "Star Wars: Galaxies" became a generic "World of Warcraft" clone. Skill trees were removed and classes were simplified and condensed into more broad archetypes.

While it's always good to strike a balance between complex systems and accessibility for new players, particularly for a huge IP tie-in like "Star Wars," fans of the game seemed to universally agree that dumbing things down was not the right move for "Star Wars: Galaxies." One fan on Reddit even goes as far as to say, "It didn't only ruin the game but changed the course of MMORPGs for years to come." Some have argued that the failure of "Star Wars: Galaxies" so close to the release of "WoW" that more players flocked to the up-and-coming MMO, cementing it as the dominant formula for the genre. Whether this is true or not, one thing is still certain: the NGE update led to a mass exodus of players from an inventive and unique "Star Wars" MMO.