feedback of app review for online game says in-app updates must be optional

Response by app review:

Regarding Guideline 2.1 - We discovered one or more bugs in your app. Specifically, “Update” notification must be optional to allow users to bypass. Please review the details below and complete the next steps.

But we argue that all players connected to our server must always have the same updated client version. The in-app updates are just content patches.

Why must the update be optional? We need the updates or patches to be mandatory to keep all players on the same fair playing level.

What are our options here? We have already informed the review about this but they just replied with the same response, about how updates should be optional.

We'd like to hear the communities thoughts on this.

Thank you!