Is it mandatory to release a product increment to production at the end of each Sprint?

Releasing a product increment to production at the end of each Sprint is not mandatory. In the Scrum framework, the primary goal of a Sprint is to deliver a potentially releasable product increment that has met the Definition of Done, which means it is complete and ready for release. However, whether that increment is actually released to production is a decision that lies with the Product Owner and is influenced by various factors such as business needs, market readiness, and stakeholder input.

Choosing not to release can happen for several reasons. For example, the team might decide to group several smaller increments together for a larger release, or there may be strategic reasons that dictate when a release should occur. Thus, the Scrum framework allows flexibility regarding the timing of actual production releases, underscoring the emphasis on delivering value as determined by the stakeholders, rather than adhering to a rigid schedule.

This perspective helps Scrum teams prioritize delivering high-quality increments while being responsive to changing business needs, rather than feeling pressured to release at the end of every Sprint. The key takeaway is that although increments should be potentially releasable, the decision to deploy them is not mandated within the Scrum process.