--- sourceDocument: zurich Combined Product Files sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/zurich/delta-xanadu-zurich Release : - zurich ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - zurich Combined Product Files ft:clusterId : - delta3zx bundleId : - delta3zx --- # Combined Playbooks in Workflow Studio release notes for upgrades from Xanadu to Zurich # Combined Playbooks in Workflow Studio release notes for upgrades from Xanadu to Zurich {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Zurich Updated October 8, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 11 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 Zurich This consolidated release notes document helps ServiceNow customers understand the evolution of Playbooks in Workflow Studio from the Xanadu release through to Zurich, highlighting new features, changes, removals, and upgrade instructions. It is designed to assist customers in planning and executing their upgrade process effectively, ensuring they leverage the latest capabilities and comply with new requirements. Show full answer Show less ## Important Upgrade Information * **Xanadu:** After upgrading, update Playbooks and Workflow Studio apps via the ServiceNow Store. * **Yokohama:** Update the Workflow Studio app from the ServiceNow Store post-upgrade. * **Zurich:** Similarly, update the Workflow Studio app from the ServiceNow Store after upgrading. Completing these updates is essential to access new features and ensure compatibility with the latest platform enhancements. ## New Features Significant new capabilities have been introduced across releases to improve playbook creation, runtime control, and AI integration: * **Variants:** Use one playbook for multiple scenarios by defining variants, increasing reusability. * **Playbook Recommendations:** Get activity suggestions to replace placeholders for faster playbook design. * **Prompt Preview and Re-prompt:** Preview and modify AI prompts before generating playbooks. * **Image and Text Playbook Generation:** Generate playbooks automatically from text, images, or both. * **Questionnaire Activity:** Collect up to 10 custom inputs from agents or fulfillers without needing existing tables or fields. * **Enhanced Access Controls:** Manage authoring and runtime permissions for playbooks and components more granularly. * **AI Agentic Playbooks:** Enable AI agents to autonomously or collaboratively assist during playbook execution, including adding custom AI agents. * **Playbook as an MCP Tool:** Expose playbooks to Model Context Protocol clients for triggering and execution. * **Playbook Generation from KB Articles:** Reduce manual effort by generating playbooks directly from knowledge base content. * **Playbook Summarization:** Generate AI-powered summaries of playbooks for quick understanding of flow and purpose. * **Advanced Runtime Features:** Add multiple triggers, schedule playbook execution, restart activities that ended in error, and create decision branches between stages. * **LLM Flexibility:** Choose from multiple large language models (NowLLM, OpenAI GPT-4o, Gemini, Claude) for playbook generation and recommendations. * **Workflow Studio UI Enhancements:** Create checklists directly in the side panel, add more configurable fields in Create Task activities, and improved decision activity navigation. ## Changes and Improvements * **Updated Roles:** The pdadmin role was renamed to playbook.admin for clearer role management. * **Asynchronous Activity Triggers:** Initial playbook activities now trigger asynchronously to improve execution performance. * **Trigger Label Updates:** Triggers are now labeled as "Start" in the Workflow Studio interface for clarity. * **Flexible Activation:** Playbooks can now be activated without triggers and executed programmatically via APIs with input objects. * **Enhanced Decision Activities:** Improved user experience with better branch navigation and the ability to add parallel activities within decision branches. * **Rich Text Enhancements:** Email bodies and other rich text fields now support a mix of text and dynamic pills. * **ServiceNow Otto Branding:** The AI experience brand name changed to ServiceNow Otto, affecting product names but not entitlements. ## Removals and Deprecations * **Removed:** The Collect User Data activity was replaced by the Questionnaire activity starting in Xanadu. * **Deprecated:** Older Create Task and Checklist activities continue to function but lack new feature capabilities; transitioning to updated versions is recommended. * **New Roles:** The now.assist.creator role was introduced in Zurich for activation management. ## Activation and Additional Requirements Workflow Studio and Playbooks are part of the ServiceNow AI Platform and available by default. To access the latest features, download or update the Workflow Studio app and related applications (such as Process Automation Content and Otto for Creator) from the ServiceNow Store. This ensures compatibility and access to AI-powered playbook generation and management tools. ## Accessibility and Localization * **Accessibility:** Diagram view supports keyboard navigation and screen readers, with updated color contrast to meet WCAG standards. * **Localization:** Playbook generation with OpenAI LLMs and image-based generation is restricted in the APAC region; customers should plan accordingly. ## Pr Consolidated page of all release notes for Playbooks in Workflow Studio from Xanadu to Zurich. ## 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 Zurich. 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 Zurich Before you upgrade to Zurich, 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. | | Zurich | Upgrade information : After you upgrade to Zurich, update the Workflow Studio application in the ServiceNow Store. | [ ] ## New features Between your current release family and Zurich, new features were introduced for Playbooks in Workflow Studio. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__10} | 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. | | 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. | [ ] ## Changes Between your current release family and Zurich, some changes were made to existing Playbooks in Workflow Studio features. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__18} | 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. | | 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. | [ ] ## Removed Between your current release family and Zurich, some Playbooks in Workflow Studio features or functionality were removed. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__26} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | Use the Questionnaire activity instead of the Collect User Data activity. | | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | | Zurich | No updates for this release. | [ ] ## Deprecations Between your current release family and Zurich, some Playbooks in Workflow Studio features or functionality were deprecated. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__34} | 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 | [ ] ## Activation information Review information on how to activate Playbooks in Workflow Studio. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__42} | 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. | | Zurich | 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=zurich&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 Playbooks in Workflow Studio we have noted them here. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__50} | 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. | | Zurich | Additional requirements : Download the latest Workflow Studio app in the ServiceNow Store to access the newest features. | [ ] ## 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__58} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | No updates for this release. | | Yokohama | No updates for this release. | | Zurich | 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__66} | Release | Release notes | |-|-| | Xanadu | No updates for this release. | | Yokohama | Accessibility information :
| | Zurich | Accessibility information : * In Diagram view, navigate between and configure stages and activities [via keyboard](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=keyboard-navigation-in-playbook-diagram-view&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US). * Set the action bar to always show in Diagram view. To learn more, see [View all buttons without hover](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=view-all-buttons-without-hover&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US). * In Diagram view, use a screen reader to help navigate the designer. * Updated color contrast for activities to meet WCAG standards. | [ ] ## Localization information If there are specific localization considerations for Playbooks in Workflow Studio we have noted them here. {#dfrn3-playbooksinworkflowstudio-summary__entry__74} | 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. | | Zurich | 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__82} | 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. | | Zurich | * Add permissions for playbook authors and runtime users. * Activate a playbook without a trigger. Set multiple potential triggers for a playbook, or trigger a playbook on a schedule. * Enable AI agents to complete activities without human intervention during runtime. * Set child variants to evaluate later in a playbook. * Create decision branches for stages. See [Playbooks](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=process-automation-designer&family=zurich&ft:locale=en-US) for more information. | [ ]