What's new videos: how to announce product updates people actually watch

Release notes are written for people who already care. A "what's new" video is written for everyone else: a title, then two to four numbered cards sliding in one at a time, each with a feature and one line on why it matters. It's quick to watch, easy to share, and a natural fit for launch weeks, monthly updates and in-app announcements.

When to use it

• Monthly or quarterly release round-ups.
• Launch week — one card per day's announcement, then a recap.
• In-app and email announcements (as a GIF-like MP4 or a link).
• Changelog posts on LinkedIn, X and your blog.

Pick the features

• Two to four; three is the sweet spot. If you shipped twenty things, pick the three customers asked for most.
• Order by impact, biggest first.
• One big feature? Give it its own video with a screenshot showcase instead.

Write benefit-first cards

Each card has a title (up to six words) and an optional line (up to 14 words). Say what the user gets, not what you built:

• ✗ "New export API endpoint" → ✓ "Export to Sheets in one click"
• ✗ "Performance improvements" → ✓ "Reports load twice as fast" (only if you've measured it)

Add a kicker like "October release" and a call to action like "Try it free" or "Update now".

Make it with Claude Opus 5.5 (or any agent)

The free What's New Cards Skill renders this locally:

Make a what's-new video for our October release with three features, written as benefits, and the button "Try it free".

Paste your release notes into the conversation and the agent will turn them into benefit-first cards for your approval, then render MP4s in 9:16, 4:5, 1:1 and 16:9. Localize it for each market by asking for the same video in other languages.

FAQ

How long is the video? About six seconds for three cards.

Can I add screenshots to the cards? The cards are text-only to stay readable on phones; pair them with a screenshot showcase for visuals.