--- sourceDocument: australia Combined Product Files sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/delta-xanadu-australia Release : - australia ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - australia Combined Product Files ft:clusterId : - delta3ax bundleId : - delta3ax --- # Combined Playbook release notes for upgrades from Xanadu to Australia # Combined Playbook release notes for upgrades from Xanadu to Australia {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Australia Updated October 8, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 12 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Combined Playbook Release Notes for Upgrades from Xanadu to Australia These consolidated release notes guide ServiceNow customers through the Playbook application upgrades from the Xanadu release through Yokohama, Zurich, and up to Australia. Playbooks are structured, guided workflows designed to lead users, agents, or technicians step-by-step through business processes such as case resolution or work order fulfillment. They ensure consistency and conformance by organizing sequential stages with manual tasks, automated actions, or guided decisions. Playbooks improve process usability by eliminating memorization, providing real-time guidance, automating routine steps, and allowing centralized updates. Show full answer Show less ## Important Upgrade Information * Before upgrading to Australia, customers should review and complete the outlined pre- and post-upgrade tasks. * After upgrading to Australia, update the Workflow Studio application from the ServiceNow Store to access the latest features. ## Key New Features Introduced Across Releases * **Yokohama:** * Support for Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) to generate playbooks using custom actions, flows, and installed spokes. * Playbook generation using OpenAI GPT-4o LLM. * Custom translations for playbook content. * Ability to restart activities ending in error with automatic variant re-evaluation. * More configurable fields in Create Task activities and checklist creation directly in Workflow Studio. * **Zurich:** * Expose playbooks as tools in Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers for external triggering and execution. * Enhanced AI agent support configurations for autonomous activity control. * Generate playbooks directly from knowledge base articles to reduce manual effort. * AI-powered playbook summarization for quick understanding of workflow stages and activities. * Integration of AI skills and custom AI agents as playbook activities with collaborative or autonomous modes. * Improved playbook branching and trigger flexibility, including multiple triggers and scheduling. * Permission controls for playbook authors and runtime users. * Agentic Playbooks to enable AI agents assisting users during playbook execution. * **Australia:** * Introduction of Ideal Path feature to visualize and define preferred execution workflows, enhancing clarity and observability. * Go Back activity to enable conditional looping and re-evaluation in playbook flows without duplicating structure. * Real-time preview of activity runtime UI directly from the Workflow Studio canvas. * Fluent DSL support for building and managing playbooks as code in the ServiceNow IDE or local SDK. * Nested playbooks to enable reuse of activity sets and easier maintenance of large playbooks. * Wizard experience for end users to guide them through multi-step processes. * Automated Test Framework integration for validating playbook execution. * Expanded use of AI agents as activities to automate context-aware tasks within playbooks. ## Notable Changes * Trigger labels updated to "Start" in Workflow Studio (Yokohama). * Triggers can be edited when duplicating playbooks or managing variants. * Playbooks can be activated without triggers and can be called programmatically using input objects (Zurich). * Decision activity enhancements improve navigation, usability, and allow parallel activities within branches. * Combination of text and multiple dynamic pills supported in rich text editors such as email bodies. * Role requirements updated: tasks previously needing admin role now require playbook.admin role (Australia). * ServiceNow AI Platform introduces three AI licensing tiers (Foundation, Advanced, Prime) that control feature access. * Now LLM Service is no longer the default model provider for new AI assets; third-party LLMs are now default, though Now LLM remains selectable. * ServiceNow Otto is the new AI experience brand reflected in product names including Playbooks without changes to entitlements. ## Deprecations * Old Create Task and Checklist activities remain functional but lack new configurable fields and direct editing in Workflow Studio. * The now.assist.creator role is no longer required for generating playbooks or recommendations using Now Assist. * Older AI models remain available for existing AI skills and workflows but are deprecated for new development starting September 2026. ## Activation and Additional Requirements * The Playbooks application downloads via the ServiceNow Store as part of the Workflow Studio app, which is included by default in the AI Platform. * For playbook generation features, download the ServiceNow Otto for Creator application. * Agentic Playbooks require enabling through Now Assist. * Related applications like Process Automation Content and Demo are available for enhanced functionality. * No new browser, Consolidated page of all release notes for Playbook from Xanadu to Australia. ## How to use this page To help you prepare for your upgrade, we have combined the cross-family Playbook release notes onto one page. Read this summary of the new features, changes, and updated information for your product from Xanadu to Australia. Tip: If there were no updates for a release notes section in a certain family release, we included a short note for your reference. For example, if a product did not have any updates in Tokyo, the row says "No updates for this release." ## Important information for upgrading Playbook to Australia Before you upgrade to Australia, review these pre- and post-upgrade tasks and complete the tasks as needed. {#dfrn3-playbook-summary__entry__2} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | No updates for this release. | | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | | Zurich | No updates for this release. | | Australia | Upgrade information : After you upgrade to Australia, update the Workflow Studio application in the ServiceNow Store. | [ ] ## New features Between your current release family and Australia, new features were introduced for Playbook. {#dfrn3-playbook-summary__entry__12} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | No updates for this release. | | Yokohama | [Support for Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) with playbook generation](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=playbook-assist&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Generate playbooks from inputs that refer to custom actions, flows, subflows, content from installed spokes, or activity definitions. Include the names of commonly used and recently published actions, subflows, flows, and activity definitions available on your instance in your playbook generation requests. [Generate playbooks with the OpenAI GPT-4o LLM](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=change-default-llm-playbook-generation&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Use the OpenAI GPT-4o LLM to generate a playbook from text. [Translate playbooks content](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=add-translations-playbooks&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Add custom translations for labels, descriptions, and UI Layout properties in your playbooks. [Restart playbook activities that end in error](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=restart&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Configure activities so that end users can restart any activity that ends in an error and variant conditions are automatically re-evaluated when playbooks are restarted. [Add more fields in Create Task activities](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=create-task-activity&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Add more fields in a more configurable Create Task activity. [Create a checklist directly in Workflow Studio](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=checklist-task-activity&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Create a checklist directly in the side panel without needing a checklist template. | | Zurich | [Playbook as an MCP tool](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=playbook-as-mcp-tool&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Expose a playbook as a tool in an MCP server, enabling MCP clients to trigger and execute the playbook through the Model Context Protocol (MCP). [AI agents autonomous support configurations](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=create-activity-definition&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Configure in the activity definition how you want autonomous support from AI agents for that activity. The additional configurations help you gain more control on the activity in a playbook. [Playbook generation from a KB article](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=playbook-generation-from-kb&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Generate a playbook directly from an existing knowledge base article to reduce manual effort when creating playbooks for documented processes. [Playbook summarization](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=playbook-summarization&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Generate an AI-powered summary of a playbook from the Workflow Studio canvas. The summary covers the playbook's stages, activities, triggers, and inputs, helping you understand quickly about its purpose and flow without reading through each activity individually. [Use AI skill as an activity](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=use-ai-skill-as-activity&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Add an existing AI skill as an activity in your playbook to run lightweight, focused AI tasks as part of the playbook flow. When the playbook reaches the activity, the skill executes, produces structured outputs, and passes those outputs to subsequent activities automatically. [Use custom agent in Agentic Playbooks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=configure-agentic-playbooks&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : In addition to the default AI Agents, you can add your custom AI Agent for an activity. Choose how you want to use the AI Agents in the activity- Collaborative or Autonomous. [Set child variants to evaluate later in a playbook](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=set-evaluation-point&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Instead of evaluating immediately after the trigger, set a playbook's child variants to be evaluated after a specific activity in the playbook. [Create decision branches for stages](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=create-decision-stage&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Add a decision node between stages to determine which stage to run next, based on runtime conditions. [Route users to stages based on decisions](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=add-configure-stage&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Send runtime users to a stage based off of the trigger record or input that users provide. [Agentic Playbooks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=agentic-playbooks&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Enable AI agents to assist users with activities during runtime. [Add permissions for playbook authors](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=user-access-playbooks&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Control which playbook authors can create, edit, and view playbooks in Workflow Studio [Add permissions for runtime users](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=create-process-definition&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Control whether runtime users can [view a playbook](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=create-process-definition&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US), [add optional activities](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=optional-activities&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US), [restart a playbook](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=restart&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US), and [complete work within specific stages](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=add-configure-stage&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US). [Set multiple triggers](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=process-automation-designer-triggers&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Configure a playbook to run based on any one of multiple triggers. [Schedule when a playbook should trigger](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=create-scheduled-trigger-definition&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Configure a playbook to run based on a schedule. [Choose your LLM for playbook generation and recommendations](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=change-default-llm-playbook-generation&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Choose between NowLLM, OpenAI ChatGPT4-o, Gemini, Claude for playbook generation and recommendations. [Generate a playbook with a trigger](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=playbook-assist&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Generate a playbook with both a trigger and activities. | | Australia | [Ideal path for a playbook](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=ideal-path-for-playbook&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US) : Use ideal path to identify the intended execution path or view upcoming work hidden behind conditions. Ideal Path enables playbook authors to define and visualize the preferred process route. The end users of a playbook gets runtime visibility into the expected workflow path, improving process clarity, usability, and observability. [Playbook as an MCP tool](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=playbook-as-mcp-tool&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US) : Expose a playbook as a tool in an MCP server, enabling MCP clients to trigger and execute the playbook through the Model Context Protocol (MCP). [AI agents autonomous support configurations](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=create-activity-definition&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US) : Configure in the activity definition how you want autonomous support from AI agents for that activity. The additional configurations help you gain more control on the activity in a playbook. [Go back activity](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=go-back-activity&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US) : Use the Go Back activity to define a conditional return point in a playbook. When placed in a decision branch, the activity directs the playbook to loop back to a specified point. The playbook can look back to an earlier activity, stage, or the start of the playbook based on the branch outcome. This enables conditional retry and re-evaluation logic without duplicating flow structure. [Playbook generation from a KB article](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=playbook-generation-from-kb&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US) : Generate a playbook directly from an existing knowledge base article to reduce manual effort when creating playbooks for documented processes. [Preview an activity's runtime UI](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=preview-playbook-runtime-ui&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US) : Preview an activity's runtime UI directly from the diagram canvas, with a real-time side-by-side preview that updates as you edit. [Fluent support for Playbooks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=create-process-definition&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US) : Build, edit, and manage playbooks as code with the Fluent domain-specific language (DSL) in the ServiceNow IDE or a local SDK. [Playbook summarization](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=playbook-summarization&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US) : Generate an AI-powered summary of a playbook from the Workflow Studio canvas. The summary covers the playbook's stages, activities, triggers, and inputs, helping you understand quickly about its purpose and flow without reading through each activity individually. [Use AI skill as an activity](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=use-ai-skill-as-activity&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US) : Add an existing AI skill as an activity in your playbook to run lightweight, focused AI tasks as part of the playbook flow. When the playbook reaches the activity, the skill executes, produces structured outputs, and passes those outputs to subsequent activities automatically. [Use custom agent in Agentic Playbooks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=configure-agentic-playbooks&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US) : In addition to the default AI Agents, you can add your custom AI Agent for an activity. Choose how you want to use the AI Agents in the activity- Collaborative or Autonomous. [Use AI agents as a playbook activity](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=ai-agent-as-activity&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US) : Use an existing AI agent as an activity in your playbook to automate tasks. The AI agent gathers the required context, performs the work, and produces outputs that subsequent activities can consume. [Nested playbooks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=nested-playbooks&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US) : Nest playbooks as a step within other playbooks to enable the following scenarios: * Define sets of activities for reuse across multiple playbooks to help avoid duplication. * Break up large playbooks for easy maintenance and fast load time in Playbook Designer. [Simplified end-user playbook experience](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=wizard-layouts-playbooks&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US) : Implement a wizard experience for guiding your end users through a sequence of steps to achieve an outcome, such as servicing a printer. [Automated Test Framework support for playbooks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=testing-support-playbooks&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US) : The Automated Test Framework can be used to create automated tests to confirm your playbooks run as planned. | [ ] ## Changes Between your current release family and Australia, some changes were made to existing Playbook features. {#dfrn3-playbook-summary__entry__22} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | No updates for this release. | | Yokohama | [Trigger label updated](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=process-automation-designer-triggers&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : The trigger is now labeled "Start" in Workflow Studio. [Change triggers in any playbook](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=duplicate-process&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) : Edit triggers when you duplicate a playbook, in a variant, etc. | | Zurich | [Activate playbooks without a trigger](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=process-automation-designer-triggers&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Configure and activate playbooks without specifying triggers, so that playbooks are only triggered programmatically. [Implement playbooks that are callable by a scriptable API](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=process-automation-designer-triggers&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Configure a playbook that executes with an input object instead of requiring the configuration of a trigger record reference and trigger conditions. [Decision activity enhancements](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=create-a-decision-activity&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : User experience improvements to decision activities: * In the Board view, select the branch to see a list of dependent activities and branches, and to navigate to them. * When a decision or one of its branch nodes is selected in Diagram view, the decision and all of its branches are selected, and the side panel opens. * Add parallel activities within decision branches. [Enter a combination of pills and text in an email body](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=add-configure-activity&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : Enter a combination of text and multiple pills in any rich text / HTML editor container, such as an email body. [ServiceNow Otto](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=now-assist-for-creator-landing&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) : ServiceNow Otto is the new AI experience brand. This change is reflected in the name of ServiceNow products, including Playbooks. Your product entitlements remain unchanged. Check your entitlements to determine your access to specific features. | | Australia | [Required role update](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=user-access-playbooks&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US) : Any tasks that previously required only the admin role now require the playbook.admin role instead. [ServiceNow product tiers](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=ai-native-sku-overview&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US) : The ServiceNow AI Platform now brings you a new AI experience with three licensing tiers available: * Foundation: AI basics to deliver insights * Advanced: AI to boost productivity across relevant use cases * Prime: Act autonomously with all AI assets, and create your own Depending on your license, you will have access to certain application features, generative AI skills, agentic workflows, and AI agents. [Changes in the Now LLM service](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=exploring-large-language-models&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US) : The Now LLM Service is no longer the default model provider for new or inactive AI assets. A third-party LLM is now selected by default, while existing configurations using the Now LLM Service continue unchanged. The Now LLM Service is still available for manual selection. [ServiceNow Otto](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=now-assist-for-creator-landing&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US) : ServiceNow Otto is the new AI experience brand. This change is reflected in the name of ServiceNow products, including Playbooks. Your product entitlements remain unchanged. Check your entitlements to determine your access to specific features. | [ ] ## Removed Between your current release family and Australia, some Playbook features or functionality were removed. {#dfrn3-playbook-summary__entry__32} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | No updates for this release. | | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | | Zurich | No updates for this release. | | Australia | No updates for this release. | [ ] ## Deprecations Between your current release family and Australia, some Playbook features or functionality were deprecated. {#dfrn3-playbook-summary__entry__42} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | No updates for this release. | | Yokohama | * * * If you have the old Create Task activity in your existing playbooks, it will continue to function. You just can't add the extra fields that are available only in the new Create Task activity. * If you have the old Checklist activity in your existing playbooks, it will continue to function. You just won't be able to update the checklist directly in Workflow Studio the way that you can with the new Checklist activity. | | Zurich | * now.assist.creator role | | Australia | The now.assist.creator role is no longer a required role to generate a playbook or playbook recommendation when using Now Assist. Starting with the September 2026 release, Gemma 4 joins our growing portfolio of open-weight models available through Now LLM Service. We're committed to bringing you the latest industry advancements while maintaining sovereignty-focused options, all hosted and governed by ServiceNow with the infrastructure and data protections you rely on today. Older models will remain available for existing published AI skills, agents, and agentic workflows, but will no longer be available for new development or configuration. For details, see the [KB3066214: ServiceNow Otto Model Upgrades](https://support.servicenow.com/kb?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB3066214) article in the Now Support Knowledge Base. | [ ] ## Activation information Review information on how to activate Playbook. {#dfrn3-playbook-summary__entry__52} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | No updates for this release. | | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | | Zurich | No updates for this release. | | Australia | Activation information : The Playbooks application comes with the Workflow Studio ServiceNow Store app. Workflow Studio is part of the ServiceNow AI Platform® and is available by default. Get the latest Workflow Studio features by downloading the latest Workflow Studio app in the ServiceNow Store, as well as related applications like Process Automation Content and Process Automation Experience Demo. The Playbooks application can be downloaded for patch fixes. To use playbook generation features in Workflow Studio, download the [ServiceNow Otto for Creator](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=now-assist-for-creator-landing&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US) application. To use Agentic Playbooks, enable it through Now Assist. Visit the [ServiceNow Store](https://store.servicenow.com/sn_appstore_store.do#!/store/home) to view all the available apps, and for information about submitting requests to the store. For cumulative release notes information for all released apps, see the [ServiceNow Store version history release notes](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=sn-store-release-notes&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US). Important: Playbooks is available in the ServiceNow Store. For details, see the "Activation information" section of these release notes. | [ ] ## Additional requirements If any additional requirements were introduced or changed for Playbook we have noted them here. {#dfrn3-playbook-summary__entry__62} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | No updates for this release. | | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | | Zurich | No updates for this release. | | Australia | No updates for this release. | [ ] ## Browser requirements If any specific browser requirements were introduced or changed for Playbook we have noted them here. {#dfrn3-playbook-summary__entry__72} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | No updates for this release. | | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | | Zurich | No updates for this release. | | Australia | No updates for this release. | [ ] ## Accessibility information Review details on accessibility information for Playbook, such as specific requirements or compliance levels. {#dfrn3-playbook-summary__entry__82} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | No updates for this release. | | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | | Zurich | No updates for this release. | | Australia | No updates for this release. | [ ] ## Localization information If there are specific localization considerations for Playbook we have noted them here. {#dfrn3-playbook-summary__entry__92} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | No updates for this release. | | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | | Zurich | No updates for this release. | | Australia | No updates for this release. | [ ] ## Highlight information If there are specific highlight considerations for Playbook we have noted them here. {#dfrn3-playbook-summary__entry__102} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | No updates for this release. | | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | | Zurich | No updates for this release. | | Australia | * Playbooks are structured, guided workflows that lead users, agents, or technicians through the steps required to complete a business process, such as case resolution or work order fulfillment. * Playbooks consist of sequential stages, each containing activities that can be manual tasks, automated actions, or guided decisions, ensuring consistency and conformance across records. * Benefits include eliminating the need to memorize processes, providing real‑time guidance, automating routine steps, and enabling administrators to update processes centrally, which applies to all users. * Playbooks support use cases across multiple domains. See [Explore](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=process-automation-designer&family=australia&ft:locale=en-US) for more information. | [ ]