Characteristics doesn't update?

When I edit one of my Characteristics on the backend it doesn't update it on the front end? I know I can remove them from the product and then re-add them and it will update but this is highly inconvenient as I will loose all my varients settings?

Hello,

Deleting and re-adding is currently the best solution but you will indeed loose your variants setting.
However it's a feature we are working on and it should be available soon

When is the expected date for this update roughly?

If we can achieve this it will be in the next release. Otherwise in the following one