Is a product increment required to be released to production at the end of each Sprint?

A product increment does not need to be released to production at the end of each Sprint; rather, it only needs to be in a usable state. The purpose of the Scrum framework is to ensure that each increment adds value, and the Scrum Team must work collaboratively to create a potentially releasable product increment by the end of each Sprint. This means that the increment could be ready for release, allowing stakeholders to decide whether they want to release it based on their business needs and priorities.

While a potentially shippable increment is created, the decision to actually release it lies with the Product Owner and depends on multiple factors, including market demands, customer feedback, and organizational strategy. As a result, while producing a usable increment is crucial, the actual release is a strategic decision that may not occur every Sprint.