Patch notes are an accompanying document to a game update in which developers explain, line by line, exactly what has changed: which bugs were fixed, which weapon or character received balance changes, which systems were reworked. Essentially, this is the official "decoding" of the patch — without it, players would only see the size of the downloaded file and be left guessing about what's new.
The format of patch notes is usually strict: a list of points grouped by category — gameplay, maps, interface, technical part. Sometimes a brief explanation is added as to why a particular change was made, but more often the wording is extremely concise: one line — one change.
Why read patch notes
For a player, patch notes are a way to understand whether a familiar mechanic has changed, whether it's worth reconsidering tactics, or whether old tricks can still be relied upon. For example, if the patch notes state that an exploit allowing accelerated silent reloading has been closed, it means the trick some players used to gain an unfair advantage will no longer work.
Patch notes also record balance changes — nerfs and buffs to weapons or characters — as well as adjustments to systems that aren't directly related to gameplay but affect the comfort of playing: anti-cheat logic, rules for automatic kicks for team damage, interface changes.
Why a small patch note can still be important
The size of an update doesn't always reflect the significance of the changes. Sometimes a patch is small and contains only a couple of lines, but those lines concern the fairness of the game — for example, closing a loophole that dishonest players exploited, or clarifying a system that used to unfairly punish accidental hits on allies. That's why experienced players and analysts read patch notes carefully rather than judging an update solely by its download size.
The word comes from the English "patch notes" — literally "notes for a patch." In Russian gaming slang, the merged spelling "патчноут" has taken root, though a hyphenated variant also occurs.