--- sourceDocument: yokohama Combined Product Files sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/yokohama/delta-xanadu-yokohama Release : - yokohama ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - yokohama Combined Product Files ft:clusterId : - delta3yx bundleId : - delta3yx --- # Combined Playbooks in Workflow Studio release notes for upgrades from Xanadu to Yokohama # Combined Playbooks in Workflow Studio release notes for upgrades from Xanadu to Yokohama {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Yokohama Updated October 8, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 6 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 Playbooks in Workflow Studio Release Notes for Upgrades from Xanadu to Yokohama This consolidated release notes page provides ServiceNow customers with a comprehensive overview of Playbooks in Workflow Studio updates, new features, changes, removals, and deprecations from the Xanadu release through to Yokohama. It is designed to guide customers through necessary pre- and post-upgrade tasks and highlight important enhancements and adjustments affecting playbook creation, management, and execution. Show full answer Show less ## Important Upgrade Information * **Post-Xanadu upgrade:** Customers must update the Playbooks and Workflow Studio applications via the ServiceNow Store. * **Post-Yokohama upgrade:** Update the Workflow Studio application from the ServiceNow Store to access the latest features and fixes. ## New Features * **Variants:** Use a single playbook for multiple scenarios by defining variants. * **Playbook Recommendations:** Receive suggestions for replacing placeholder activities with appropriate options. * **Re-prompt and Preview:** Preview and modify prompts before building playbooks to ensure accuracy. * **Image to Playbook Generation:** Generate playbooks automatically from text, images, or both. * **Questionnaire Activity:** Collect up to 10 custom inputs from agents or fulfillers during a playbook run without needing existing tables or fields. * **Enhanced Access Controls:** Better manage who can access and modify playbooks and their components. * **Archived Data Enhancements:** Schedule archiving of process execution data and review archived JSON files. * **API Script Support:** Use scripts to activate, restart, deactivate, or duplicate playbooks programmatically. * **Support for Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG):** Generate playbooks using inputs referencing custom actions, flows, subflows, spokes, and activity definitions. * **OpenAI GPT-4o LLM Integration:** Generate playbooks using advanced AI language models. * **Playbook Content Translation:** Add custom translations for labels, descriptions, and UI layout properties. * **Error Recovery:** Configure activities so users can restart any activity that ends in error, with automatic re-evaluation of variant conditions. * **Expanded Create Task Activity:** Add more configurable fields in the Create Task activity. * **Checklist Creation:** Create checklists directly within Workflow Studio side panels without templates. ## Changes * **Role Update:** The previous `pdadmin` role is now renamed to `playbook.admin` for clearer permissions management. * **Asynchronous Activity Triggering:** Initial activities trigger asynchronously to improve playbook run performance. * **Trigger Label Update:** The trigger event is now labeled "Start" within Workflow Studio for consistency. * **Trigger Editing:** Users can now edit triggers when duplicating playbooks or modifying variants. ## Removals and Deprecations * **Removed:** The **Collect User Data** activity is replaced by the more versatile Questionnaire activity. * **Deprecated in Yokohama:** Legacy Create Task and Checklist activities continue to work but lack new capabilities such as additional fields or direct checklist editing within Workflow Studio. ## Activation and Application Management * Workflow Studio and Playbooks are part of the ServiceNow AI Platform and available by default. * To access the latest features and fixes, customers should download or update related applications (Workflow Studio, Process Automation Content, Process Automation Experience Demo, and Otto for Creator) from the ServiceNow Store. * Playbook generation features require the ServiceNow Otto for Creator application. ## Additional Notes * **Localization:** Some features such as image-based playbook generation and use of OpenAI LLMs for playbook generation are not available in the APAC region. * **Browser and Accessibility:** No changes or new requirements were introduced in these areas between Xanadu and Yokohama. * **Access to Features:** Some Xanadu features require downloading the app from the ServiceNow Store to be accessible. ## Benefits for ServiceNow Customers Upgrading to Yokohama with these Playbooks in Workflow Studio enhancements enables customers to: * Develop more flexible and reusable playbooks using variants. * Leverage AI-driven playbook generation for faster automation design. * Improve data collection and task management within playbooks. * Increase operational efficiency with asynchronous triggers and error recovery options. * Maintain tighter access control and localization support for global teams. * Se Consolidated page of all release notes for Playbooks in Workflow Studio from Xanadu to Yokohama. ## How to use this page To help you prepare for your upgrade, we have combined the cross-family Playbooks in Workflow Studio release notes onto one page. Read this summary of the new features, changes, and updated information for your product from Xanadu to Yokohama. 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 Playbooks in Workflow Studio to Yokohama Before you upgrade to Yokohama, review these pre- and post-upgrade tasks and complete the tasks as needed. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__2} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | After you upgrade to Xanadu, update the Playbooks and Workflow Studio applications in the ServiceNow Store. | | Yokohama | Upgrade information : After you upgrade to Yokohama, update the Workflow Studio application in the ServiceNow Store. | [ ] ## New features Between your current release family and Yokohama, new features were introduced for Playbooks in Workflow Studio. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__8} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | [Variants](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=playbook-variants&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) : Use one playbook for multiple scenarios with variants. [Playbook recommendations](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=playbook-recommendations&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) : Get suggestions on which activities to replace placeholder activities with. [Re-prompt and preview](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=generate-a-playbook-outline&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) : Preview and modify your prompt before building your playbook. [Image to playbook generation](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=generate-a-playbook-outline&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) : Generate a playbook with out-of-the-box activities from text, an image, or both. [Questionnaire activity](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=questionnaire-activity&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) : Reference flow glide variable input and output values in an activity's condition builders to collect up to 10 pieces of information from an agent or fulfiller to use later during a playbook run, without requiring an existing table or fields. [Greater access controls](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=user-access-playbooks&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) : Better manage access to your playbooks and playbook components. [Archived data enhancements](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=archive-process-executions&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) : Schedule process execution data to be archived, and view the JSON files for your archived data. [Script support for activate, restart, deactivate, and duplicate](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=api-rn&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) : Use a script include or business rule that calls the activate, deactivate, restart, or duplicate playbook APIs. [Washington 25.2 release](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=process-automation-designer-rn&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) : See 25.2 features in the [Washington DC Playbooks release notes](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=process-automation-designer-rn&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US): * Playbook Assist | | 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. | [ ] ## Changes Between your current release family and Yokohama, some changes were made to existing Playbooks in Workflow Studio features. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__14} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | [Updated Roles](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=process-automation-designer-roles&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) : The pd_admin role is now playbook.admin. Activities trigger asynchronously : To avoid slowing down the playbook runs, the first activities are triggered asynchronously. | | 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. | [ ] ## Removed Between your current release family and Yokohama, some Playbooks in Workflow Studio features or functionality were removed. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__20} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | Use the Questionnaire activity instead of the Collect User Data activity. | | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | [ ] ## Deprecations Between your current release family and Yokohama, some Playbooks in Workflow Studio features or functionality were deprecated. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__26} | 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. | [ ] ## Activation information Review information on how to activate Playbooks in Workflow Studio. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__32} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | The application comes with the app in 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 ServiceNow Store, as well as related applications like the Process Automation Experience Demo application. To use the playbook generation feature in Workflow Studio, download the [ServiceNow Otto for Creator](https://store.servicenow.com/sn_appstore_store.do#!/store/application/8178fec0ce0431105a7c9305875b2dca) application. Visit the [ServiceNow Store](https://store.servicenow.com/sn_appstore_store.do#!/store/home) website 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=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US). | | Yokohama | Activation information : The application comes with the application can be downloaded for patch fixes.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 the Process Automation Content and Process Automation Experience Demo applications. The To use the playbook generation feature in Workflow Studio, download the [ServiceNow Otto for Creator](https://store.servicenow.com/sn_appstore_store.do#!/store/application/8178fec0ce0431105a7c9305875b2dca) application. Visit the [ServiceNow Store](https://store.servicenow.com/sn_appstore_store.do#!/store/home) website 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=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US). Important: Workflow Studio 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 Playbooks in Workflow Studio we have noted them here. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__38} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | The following features are part of the ServiceNow AI Platform® and are active by default: * Archived data enhancements * Script support for activate, restart, and deactivate * Updated roles * Greater access controls Download the app in the ServiceNow Store to access the following features: * Variants * Questionnaire activity * Playbook Recommendations * Re-prompt and preview For access to all app in the store.Xanadu features, download the latest | | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | [ ] ## Browser requirements If any specific browser requirements were introduced or changed for Playbooks in Workflow Studio we have noted them here. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__44} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | No updates for this release. | | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | [ ] ## Accessibility information Review details on accessibility information for Playbooks in Workflow Studio, such as specific requirements or compliance levels. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__50} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | No updates for this release. | | Yokohama | Accessibility information :
| [ ] ## Localization information If there are specific localization considerations for Playbooks in Workflow Studio we have noted them here. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__56} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | Playbook generation with images is not available in the APAC region. | | Yokohama | Localization information : Using OpenAI LLMs for playbook generation is not available in the APAC region. | [ ] ## Highlight information If there are specific highlight considerations for Playbooks in Workflow Studio we have noted them here. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__62} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | * Use one playbook for multiple scenarios with variants. * Get recommendations on which activities to replace placeholder activities with. * Preview and modify your text directions before generating your playbook outline with Now Assist. * Generate a playbook with out-of-the-box activities from text, an image or both. * Collect custom responses from an end user, without requiring an existing table or fields. * Better manage access to your playbooks and playbook components. See [Exploring playbooks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=process-automation-designer&family=xanadu&ft:locale=en-US) for more information. | | Yokohama | * Add custom translations for playbooks. * Restart playbook activities that have ended in error. * Create a checklist directly in the side panel without needing a checklist template. * Generate a playbook via API in other ServiceNow applications such as IT Operations Management (ITOM). * Generate playbooks from inputs that refer to active actions, flows, subflows, content from installed spokes, or activity definitions. See [Exploring playbooks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=process-automation-designer&family=yokohama&ft:locale=en-US) for more information. | [ ]