Freedom251 › Game Narrative Design Software
articy:draft X
What articy:draft X is
articy:draft X is a narrative design and game writing tool for creating and managing interactive stories. Its visual Flow Editor organizes branching, non-linear stories and nested flows. The Game Object Database keeps project entities, assets, and related content together, while scripting with variables, conditions, and instructions can shape choices and game flow. Localization tools manage project languages and translation status, with spreadsheet import and export. The product offers dedicated Unity and Unreal integrations, plus JSON, Excel, Word, and XML exports. Multi-user licenses support simultaneous project access, version history, and SVN or Perforce; Perforce Stream depots are not supported. The free edition allows unlimited projects, but a project locks after it exceeds 700 objects until objects are removed or it is upgraded. Single-user subscriptions cost €7.98 a month or €79.99 a year. A 14-day multi-user trial for collaboration features is available by requesting it through sales. Articy states it does not use project data to train AI tools; AI and voice features connect to third-party services under their terms.
Who it suits
articy:draft X suits writers and game teams organizing branching stories, game objects, and localization. Teams needing simultaneous project access can consider multi-user licenses, while free users should account for the 700-object project limit.
What it does well
- Visual editor for branching stories and nested flows
- Game Object Database organizes entities and assets
- Localization workflow with spreadsheet import and export
- Unity and Unreal integrations
- Free edition allows unlimited projects
What to know first
- Free projects lock beyond 700 objects
- Perforce Stream depots are unsupported
- Multi-user trial requires a sales request
Limits
The free edition supports up to 700 objects per project; a project locks once it exceeds that limit until objects are removed or the project is upgraded. The listed single-user subscriptions provide unlimited objects and unlimited projects.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| articy:draft X FREE | 700 objects per project · unlimited projects · use forever | Free |
| Team bundles | starting at per month · multi-user collaboration · Basic, Professional and Premium bundles | €56 a month |
| articy:draft X Monthly subscription | per month · unlimited objects · unlimited projects | €6.99 a month |
| articy:draft X Annual subscription | per year · unlimited objects · unlimited projects | €69.99 a year |
| Single User Monthly subscription | per month · Unlimited objects · unlimited projects | €7.98 a month |
| Single User Annual subscription | per year · Unlimited objects · unlimited projects | €79.99 a year |
As articy.com lists them, read 15 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Visit the articy:draft X website.
- Choose the free edition or a single-user subscription.
- Use the 14-day multi-user trial for collaboration features by requesting it through sales.
- Use the Windows or macOS platform, or the self-hosted and API options.
Verdict
articy:draft X combines story-flow design, project data organization, localization, and game-engine integrations. The free edition may suit smaller projects, while teams requiring more objects or collaboration features should review the listed subscription and trial options.
Questions
Is there a free plan?
Yes. articy:draft X FREE costs nothing and allows unlimited projects, with a limit of 700 objects per project.
How much do the single-user subscriptions cost?
The monthly subscription is €7.98 a month, billed monthly. The annual subscription is €79.99 a year, billed yearly.
Which platforms does it support?
The listed platforms are Windows, macOS, self-hosted use, and API access.
Does it work with Unity or Unreal Engine?
Yes. It provides dedicated Unity and Unreal integrations.
Can it manage localization?
Yes. Localization tools manage project languages and translation status, and support spreadsheet import and export.
Is there a multi-user trial?
Yes. The free multi-user trial lasts 14 days and is requested through sales.
Facts from articy:draft X's own pages
- AI data use
- Articy says it does not collect, analyze, or use project data to train AI tools; AI and voice features connect to third-party services under their terms. · articy.com, 3 Oct 2026
- AI extensions
- AI extensions provide assisted preview images, dialogue and barks, and administrators can disable them in multi-user environments. · articy.com, 15 Oct 2026
- API
- The .NET API can connect to articy:server, open projects and read or write project data through external programs. · articy.com, 15 Oct 2026
- API capabilities
- API programs can query, create, modify, delete and export objects, automate builds, create reports and generate localization or voice-over data. · articy.com, 15 Oct 2026
- API distribution
- The API and Macro Development Kit are distributed as NuGet packages with automated project setup. · articy.com, 15 Oct 2026
- API documentation depth
- The programmer guide documents server login, project access, SQL-like queries, object creation, exports, logging, assemblies and sample C# programs across eight PDF pages. · articy.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Collaboration
- Multi-user editions support simultaneous access, integrated SVN, external SVN or Perforce, rollback history, centralized licensing, change comments and Active Directory or LDAP synchronization. · articy.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Company headquarters
- Articy identifies its main office as Bochum in Germany’s Ruhr district. · articy.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Company legal name
- The maker is Articy Software GmbH & Co. KG, registered in Bochum, Germany, with Carsten Schröder listed as CEO. · articy.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation and support
- The official tutorial library covers installation, UI, entities, flows, templates, scripting, localization, plugins, multi-user setup, Unity and Unreal importers. · articy.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Document view
- The document view is a word-like editor that can convert screenplay-formatted text into visual flow. · articy.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Exports and imports
- Supported transfers include JSON, XML, Excel, Word, XPS, Unity, Unreal, generic-engine export, Excel import and Final Draft import. · articy.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Flow editor
- The flow editor supports nonlinear stories, nested flows, drag-and-drop authoring, attachments and hyperlinks. · articy.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Game object database
- Projects can centrally manage connected characters, items, spells, weapons, skills and other game objects. · articy-software.itch.io, 15 Oct 2026
- Headquarters
- Bochum, Germany · articy.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Hosted security
- For its optional hosting, Articy states that it uses certified EU data centers, SSL-secured client connections, per-client accounts, and daily external backups. · articy.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The product provides dedicated Unity and Unreal integrations, along with JSON, Excel, Word, and XML exports. · articy.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Licence model
- articy:draft X has subscription licensing and no perpetual licence; a licence can be active on one device at a time. · articy.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: Capterra learning curve
- That reviewer found the tutorials information-heavy and nesting confusing. · capterra.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limits
- The free edition locks a project after it exceeds 700 objects until extra objects are removed or the project is upgraded. · articy.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Limit: Steam performance and cost
- Reviewers reported lag on lower-spec laptops and described older editions as expensive or restrictive for average users. · steamcommunity.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: Steam usability
- Steam complaints include clunky interface behavior, confusing large asset libraries, weak template customization and historically missing autosave. · steamcommunity.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Localization
- Localization includes project languages, state tracking, Excel import/export, voice-over workflows, reports and optional DeepL translation. · articy.com, 15 Oct 2026
- Location editor
- A vector-based 2D location editor provides layers, drawing tools, backgrounds, text and map spots. · articy.com, 15 Oct 2026
Where articy:draft X stands on Freedom251
- Game Narrative Design Software#3 of 25