stealth nerf

Verb

 * 1)  To cripple or weaken an element of a video game (such as a character, a weapon, or a spell) without announcing the change to the playerbase.

Noun

 * 1)  The weakening or worsening of an element of a video game (a character, a weapon, a spell, etc.) in an update without the change being announced to the players of the game.