When a new Max version is released, wait until all plugins and renderers are compatible, then upgrade everyone within a two-week window. This minimizes version fragmentation.
If you are on a subscription, you can install the latest version alongside your current one. Autodesk allows multiple versions on the same machine. You can then open the file in the newer Max, work on it, and export to a compatible format for your main pipeline. File Was Saved By A Newer Version Of 3ds Max And Cannot