Bochum, Germany – Articy Software GmbH & Co.KG has announced the release of a powerful new update for its flagship narrative design tool, articy:draft X. The update, which was released on August 14th, 2025, is tailored for game studios, narrative designers, and tool developers. It delivers a wide range of quality-of-life improvements, developer-focused enhancements, and a brand new plugin to prototype voiceovers.
According to CEO Carsten Schroeder, this update reflects the company’s commitment to empowering narrative creators at every level. “Whether they’re writing solo, collaborating in teams, or extending the tool with custom-built workflows, we want to make it easier for them to bring their ideas to life,” he says.
The latest version of articy:draft X offers a smoother start for users, with UX/UI improvements for project creation and import. The interface has been refined to make the setup process more intuitive and reduce friction. Additionally, cleaner dialogs, smarter field validation, navigation-friendly dialogs, and editable directory fields have been implemented to streamline the process.
For developers building custom tools and workflows, the update brings enhanced MDK (Macro Development Kit) tools. These improvements include a configuration framework for creating persistable plugin data with optional UI, a dedicated plugin configurations tab, toolbar extensions for quick access to plugin features, and expanded change detection and asset callbacks for more responsive event handling. New property types for custom export settings have also been added, unlocking more expressive plugin configurations.
A standout addition in this release is the new VO (Voice Over) Extension plugin, which allows seamless integration with ElevenLabs’ voice synthesis technology. This allows writers and developers to preview synthesized voiceovers directly within their projects, fine-tune tone and pacing, and guide voice actors with precision. The plugin also offers the ability to access and manage a synthesized voice library through plugin-managed templates, play audio files directly from within articy:draft, and prototype tone, timing, and delivery to reduce re-recording loops.
Other enhancements in the update include searchable dropdowns for easier handling of large template lists, localization proofing support, and SSO (Single Sign-On) for Perforce to make logins easier and more secure for large teams. The release also includes bug fixes for a smoother and more stable experience.
From UI to plugin architecture, this update focuses on usability and extensibility. It aims to help teams streamline their processes, test ideas faster, and build stronger narrative content. Whether you’re a writer, designer, or developer, now is the perfect time to (re)discover articy:draft X.
Articy Software GmbH & Co.KG is an innovative software developer that empowers writers and narrative designers to unleash their creativity as they navigate the complexities of branching storylines and narrative content management. The company believes that the future of stories is interactive and aims to shape the way that interactive narrative experiences are created.
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