diff --git a/.github/workflows/changelog-preview.yml b/.github/workflows/changelog-preview.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1ed1021302d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/changelog-preview.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+name: Changelog Preview
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    types:
+    - opened
+    - synchronize
+    - reopened
+    - edited
+    - labeled
+jobs:
+  changelog-preview:
+    uses: getsentry/craft/.github/workflows/changelog-preview.yml@v2
+    secrets: inherit
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release-upload-xcframework.yml b/.github/workflows/release-upload-xcframework.yml
index 1c93802a81f..1d7f084cbb6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release-upload-xcframework.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release-upload-xcframework.yml
@@ -1,47 +1,29 @@
 name: Upload XCFrameworks
 on:
-  push:
-    branches:
-      - release/**
-
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      version:
+        description: Version to release (or "auto")
+        required: false
 jobs:
-  # Craft uses the Git commit hash to query GitHub Actions for artifacts
-  # uploaded in a workflow run associated with that commit.
-  #
-  # To support this, we download the XCFramework already built and uploaded
-  # in release.yml (triggered via workflow_dispatch), and reupload it here.
-  # This associates it with the new commit in the release branch, which is
-  # created by getsentry/action-prepare-release in release.yml.
-  #
-  # This is necessary because Swift Package Manager requires a checksum for
-  # XCFrameworks, creating a chicken-and-egg problem: we need the XCFramework
-  # to generate the checksum, but we also need the checksum to update Package.swift.
-  #
-  # The sequence is:
-  # 1. Build the XCFrameworks in release.yml.
-  # 2. getsentry/action-prepare-release updates Package.swift with the checksum.
-  # 3. Upload the XCFrameworks again here so Craft can find it by commit.
-  upload-xcframeworks:
+  release:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    name: Release a new version
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
-
-      - name: Get Release workflow run ID
-        run: echo "FRAMEWORK_RUN_ID=$(./scripts/xcframework-generated-run.sh)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-
-      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v7
-        with:
-          name: xcframeworks.zip
-          path: XCFrameworkBuildPath/
-          github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-          run-id: ${{ env.FRAMEWORK_RUN_ID }}
-
-      - name: Archive XCFrameworks for Craft
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v6
-        with:
-          # Craft uses the git commit hash of the release branch to download the release artifacts.
-          name: ${{ github.sha }}
-          if-no-files-found: error
-          overwrite: true
-          path: |
-            ${{github.workspace}}/XCFrameworkBuildPath/*.zip
+    - name: Get auth token
+      id: token
+      uses: actions/create-github-app-token@v1
+      with:
+        app-id: ${{ vars.SENTRY_RELEASE_BOT_CLIENT_ID }}
+        private-key: ${{ secrets.SENTRY_RELEASE_BOT_PRIVATE_KEY }}
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      with:
+        token: ${{ steps.token.outputs.token }}
+        fetch-depth: 0
+    - name: Prepare release
+      uses: getsentry/craft@v2
+      env:
+        GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ steps.token.outputs.token }}
+      with:
+        version: ${{ inputs.version }}
+        path: '|'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 5c2a95cfd64..ff76f82d1d0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -1,403 +1,37 @@
 name: Release
-run-name: Release ${{ github.event.inputs.version || github.sha }}
-
 on:
-  push:
-    branches:
-      - main
-      - v8.x
-
-  pull_request:
-    types: [opened, synchronize, reopened, labeled]
-
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
       version:
-        description: Version to release
-        required: true
+        description: Version to release (or "auto")
+        required: false
       force:
-        description: Force a release even when there are release-blockers (optional)
+        description: Force a release even when there are release-blockers
         required: false
       merge_target:
-        description: Target branch to merge into. Uses the default branch as a fallback (optional)
+        description: Target branch to merge into
         required: false
-
-# Concurrency configuration:
-# - We use workflow-specific concurrency groups to prevent multiple release builds from running
-#   simultaneously, which could lead to race conditions in artifact generation and storage.
-# - For pull requests, we cancel in-progress runs when testing release workflow changes since
-#   only the latest version needs validation before merging.
-# - For main branch pushes (actual releases), we never cancel runs to ensure every release
-#   process completes fully, as partial releases could corrupt our distribution pipeline.
-concurrency:
-  group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}
-  cancel-in-progress: ${{ github.event_name == 'pull_request' }}
-
 jobs:
-  ready-to-merge-gate:
-    name: Ready-to-merge gate
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/ready-to-merge-workflow.yml
-
-  files-changed:
-    name: Detect File Changes
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    needs: ready-to-merge-gate
-    outputs:
-      run_release_for_prs: ${{ steps.changes.outputs.run_release_for_prs }}
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
-      - name: Get changed files
-        id: changes
-        uses: dorny/paths-filter@de90cc6fb38fc0963ad72b210f1f284cd68cea36 # v3.0.2
-        with:
-          token: ${{ github.token }}
-          filters: .github/file-filters.yml
-
-  setup-matrix:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    if: github.event_name != 'pull_request' || needs.files-changed.outputs.run_release_for_prs == 'true'
-    needs: files-changed
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
-      - name: Setup matrix combinations
-        id: setup-matrix-combinations
-        run: |
-          ./scripts/generate_release_matrix.sh
-        env:
-          EVENT_NAME: ${{ github.event_name }}
-    outputs:
-      slices: ${{ steps.setup-matrix-combinations.outputs.slices }}
-      variants: ${{ steps.setup-matrix-combinations.outputs.variants }}
-      sdk-list-array: ${{ steps.setup-matrix-combinations.outputs.sdk-list-array }}
-      sdk-list-string: ${{ steps.setup-matrix-combinations.outputs.sdk-list-string }}
-
-  build-xcframework-variant-slices:
-    name: Build XCFramework Slices
-    # Run the job only for PRs with related changes or non-PR events.
-    if: github.event_name != 'pull_request' || needs.files-changed.outputs.run_release_for_prs == 'true'
-    needs: [files-changed, setup-matrix]
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/build-xcframework-variant-slices.yml
-    with:
-      name: ${{matrix.variant.name}}
-      suffix: ${{matrix.variant.suffix}}
-      macho-type: ${{matrix.variant.macho-type}}
-      configuration-suffix: ${{matrix.variant.configuration-suffix}}
-      variant-id: ${{matrix.variant.id}}
-      release-version: ${{ github.event.inputs.version }}
-      sdk-list: ${{ needs.setup-matrix.outputs.sdk-list-array }}
-    strategy:
-      matrix:
-        variant: ${{ fromJson(needs.setup-matrix.outputs.slices) }}
-
-  assemble-xcframework-variant:
-    needs: [files-changed, build-xcframework-variant-slices, setup-matrix]
-    # Run the job only for PRs with related changes or non-PR events.
-    if: github.event_name != 'pull_request' || needs.files-changed.outputs.run_release_for_prs == 'true'
-    name: Assemble XCFramework Variant
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/assemble-xcframework-variant.yml
-    secrets: inherit
-    with:
-      scheme: ${{matrix.variant.scheme}}
-      suffix: ${{matrix.variant.suffix}}
-      configuration-suffix: ${{matrix.variant.configuration-suffix}}
-      variant-id: ${{matrix.variant.id}}
-      # Only sign the XCFramework on releases
-      signed: ${{ github.event_name != 'pull_request' }}
-      release-version: ${{ github.event.inputs.version }}
-      excluded-archs: ${{matrix.variant.excluded-archs}}
-      override-name: ${{matrix.variant.override-name}}
-      sdks: ${{ needs.setup-matrix.outputs.sdk-list-string }}
-    strategy:
-      matrix:
-        variant: ${{ fromJson(needs.setup-matrix.outputs.variants) }}
-
-  validate-xcframework:
-    name: Validate XCFramework
-    runs-on: macos-15
-    needs: [files-changed, assemble-xcframework-variant]
-    # Run the job only for PRs with related changes or non-PR events.
-    if: github.event_name != 'pull_request' || needs.files-changed.outputs.run_release_for_prs == 'true'
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
-      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v7
-        with:
-          pattern: xcframework-${{github.sha}}-sentry-static
-          path: XCFrameworkBuildPath/
-      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v7
-        with:
-          pattern: xcframework-${{github.sha}}-sentry-swiftui
-          path: XCFrameworkBuildPath/
-      - run: ./scripts/ci-select-xcode.sh 16.4
-      - name: Unzip all XCFrameworks
-        run: |
-          find XCFrameworkBuildPath -name "*.xcframework.zip" -print0 | xargs -t0I @ unzip @ -d XCFrameworkBuildPath
-      - name: Strip expectedSignature attributes from XCFramework project
-        if: ${{ github.event_name == 'pull_request' }}
-        run: make strip-xcframework-expected-signature
-      - run: make build-xcframework-sample
-      - name: Run CI Diagnostics
-        if: failure()
-        run: ./scripts/ci-diagnostics.sh
-
-  # Use github.event.pull_request.head.sha instead of github.sha when available as
-  # the github.sha is be the pre merge commit id for PRs.
-  # See https://github.community/t/github-sha-isnt-the-value-expected/17903/17906.
-  validate-spm:
-    name: Validate SPM Static
-    runs-on: macos-15
-    needs: [files-changed, assemble-xcframework-variant]
-    # Run the job only for PRs with related changes or non-PR events.
-    if: github.event_name != 'pull_request' || needs.files-changed.outputs.run_release_for_prs == 'true'
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
-      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v7
-        with:
-          pattern: xcframework-${{github.sha}}-*
-          merge-multiple: true
-      - name: Prepare Package.swift
-        shell: bash
-        run: |
-          ./scripts/prepare-package.sh \
-            --package-file Package.swift \
-            --is-pr "${{ github.event_name == 'pull_request' }}" \
-            --change-path true
-      - run: ./scripts/ci-select-xcode.sh 16.4
-      - run: swift build
-        working-directory: Samples/macOS-SPM-CommandLine
-      - name: Run CI Diagnostics
-        if: failure()
-        run: ./scripts/ci-diagnostics.sh
-
-  validate-spm-dynamic:
-    name: Validate SPM Dynamic
-    runs-on: macos-15
-    needs: [files-changed, assemble-xcframework-variant]
-    # Run the job only for PRs with related changes or non-PR events.
-    if: github.event_name != 'pull_request' || needs.files-changed.outputs.run_release_for_prs == 'true'
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
-      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v7
-        with:
-          pattern: xcframework-${{github.sha}}-*
-          merge-multiple: true
-      - name: Prepare Package.swift
-        shell: bash
-        run: |
-          ./scripts/prepare-package.sh \
-            --package-file Package.swift \
-            --is-pr "${{ github.event_name == 'pull_request' }}" \
-            --change-path true
-      - run: ./scripts/ci-select-xcode.sh 16.4
-      - run: swift build
-        working-directory: Samples/SPM-Dynamic
-      - name: Run CI Diagnostics
-        if: failure()
-        run: ./scripts/ci-diagnostics.sh
-
-  swift-build:
-    name: Build Swift Static
-    runs-on: macos-15
-    needs: [files-changed, assemble-xcframework-variant]
-    # Run the job only for PRs with related changes or non-PR events.
-    if: github.event_name != 'pull_request' || needs.files-changed.outputs.run_release_for_prs == 'true'
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
-      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v7
-        with:
-          pattern: xcframework-${{github.sha}}-*
-          merge-multiple: true
-      - name: Prepare Package.swift
-        shell: bash
-        run: |
-          ./scripts/prepare-package.sh \
-            --package-file Package.swift \
-            --is-pr "${{ github.event_name == 'pull_request' }}" \
-            --change-path true
-      - run: ./scripts/ci-select-xcode.sh 16.4
-      - run: swift build --target SentrySwiftUI
-      - name: Run CI Diagnostics
-        if: failure()
-        run: ./scripts/ci-diagnostics.sh
-
-  validate-spm-visionos:
-    name: Validate SPM Static visionOS
-    runs-on: macos-15
-    needs: [files-changed, assemble-xcframework-variant]
-    # Run the job only for PRs with related changes or non-PR events.
-    if: github.event_name != 'pull_request' || needs.files-changed.outputs.run_release_for_prs == 'true'
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
-      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v7
-        with:
-          pattern: xcframework-${{github.sha}}-*
-          merge-multiple: true
-      - name: Prepare Package.swift
-        shell: bash
-        run: |
-          ./scripts/prepare-package.sh \
-            --package-file Package.swift \
-            --is-pr "${{ github.event_name == 'pull_request' }}" \
-            --change-path true
-      - run: ./scripts/ci-select-xcode.sh 16.4
-      - run: set -o pipefail &&xcodebuild build -scheme visionOS-SPM -sdk xros -destination 'generic/platform=xros' | tee raw-build-output-spm-visionOS.log | xcbeautify
-        working-directory: Samples/visionOS-SPM
-      - name: Run CI Diagnostics
-        if: failure()
-        run: ./scripts/ci-diagnostics.sh
-
-  duplication-tests:
-    name: Test Sentry Duplication V4 # Up the version with every change to keep track of flaky tests
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/ui-tests-common.yml
-    needs: [files-changed, assemble-xcframework-variant]
-    # Run the job only for PRs with related changes or non-PR events.
-    if: github.event_name != 'pull_request' || needs.files-changed.outputs.run_release_for_prs == 'true'
-    secrets:
-      CODECOV_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CODECOV_TOKEN }}
-    with:
-      fastlane_command: duplication_test
-      xcode_version: 16.4
-      macos_version: macos-15
-      needs_xcframework: true
-
-  app-metrics:
-    name: Collect App Metrics
-    runs-on: macos-15
-    needs: [files-changed, assemble-xcframework-variant]
-    # Run the job only for PRs with related changes (from contributors) or non-PR events.
-    if: github.event_name != 'pull_request' || (needs.files-changed.outputs.run_release_for_prs == 'true' && contains(fromJson('["OWNER", "MEMBER", "COLLABORATOR", "CONTRIBUTOR"]'), github.event.pull_request.author_association))
-    timeout-minutes: 20
-    steps:
-      - name: Git checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v6
-      - run: ./scripts/ci-select-xcode.sh 16.4
-      - name: Setup Ruby
-        uses: ruby/setup-ruby@b90be12699fdfcbee4440c2bba85f6f460446bb0 # v1.279.0
-        with:
-          bundler-cache: true
-      - uses: actions/cache@v5
-        id: app-plain-cache
-        with:
-          path: Tests/Perf/test-app-plain.ipa
-          key: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.job }}-appplain-${{ hashFiles('fastlane/Fastfile', 'Tests/Perf/test-app-plain/**') }}
-      - name: Build test app plain
-        if: steps.app-plain-cache.outputs['cache-hit'] != 'true'
-        run: bundle exec fastlane build_perf_test_app_plain
-        env:
-          APP_STORE_CONNECT_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.APP_STORE_CONNECT_KEY_ID }}
-          APP_STORE_CONNECT_ISSUER_ID: ${{ secrets.APP_STORE_CONNECT_ISSUER_ID }}
-          APP_STORE_CONNECT_KEY: ${{ secrets.APP_STORE_CONNECT_KEY }}
-          FASTLANE_KEYCHAIN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.FASTLANE_KEYCHAIN_PASSWORD }}
-          MATCH_GIT_PRIVATE_KEY: ${{ secrets.MATCH_GIT_PRIVATE_KEY }}
-          MATCH_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MATCH_PASSWORD }}
-          MATCH_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.MATCH_USERNAME }}
-      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v7
-        with:
-          pattern: xcframework-${{github.sha}}-sentry-dynamic
-          path: XCFrameworkBuildPath/
-      - run: find XCFrameworkBuildPath -name "Sentry-Dynamic.xcframework.zip" -print0 | xargs -t0I @ unzip @ -d XCFrameworkBuildPath
-      - name: Build test app with sentry
-        run: bundle exec fastlane build_perf_test_app_sentry
-        env:
-          APP_STORE_CONNECT_KEY_ID: ${{ secrets.APP_STORE_CONNECT_KEY_ID }}
-          APP_STORE_CONNECT_ISSUER_ID: ${{ secrets.APP_STORE_CONNECT_ISSUER_ID }}
-          APP_STORE_CONNECT_KEY: ${{ secrets.APP_STORE_CONNECT_KEY }}
-          FASTLANE_KEYCHAIN_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.FASTLANE_KEYCHAIN_PASSWORD }}
-          MATCH_GIT_PRIVATE_KEY: ${{ secrets.MATCH_GIT_PRIVATE_KEY }}
-          MATCH_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.MATCH_PASSWORD }}
-          MATCH_USERNAME: ${{ secrets.MATCH_USERNAME }}
-      - name: Collect app metrics
-        uses: getsentry/action-app-sdk-overhead-metrics@5f2d99b8e5a7b833386524924d24320501099a44
-        with:
-          config: Tests/Perf/metrics-test.yml
-          sauce-user: ${{ secrets.SAUCE_USERNAME }}
-          sauce-key: ${{ secrets.SAUCE_ACCESS_KEY }}
-      - name: Debug Xcode environment
-        if: ${{ failure() || cancelled() }}
-        run: ./scripts/ci-diagnostics.sh
-
-  job_release:
+  release:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    name: "Release New Version"
-    needs:
-      [
-        files-changed,
-        validate-xcframework,
-        validate-spm,
-        validate-spm-dynamic,
-        swift-build,
-        duplication-tests,
-        app-metrics,
-      ]
-    if: ${{ github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' }}
-    steps:
-      - name: Get auth token
-        id: token
-        uses: actions/create-github-app-token@29824e69f54612133e76f7eaac726eef6c875baf # v2.2.1
-        with:
-          app-id: ${{ vars.SENTRY_RELEASE_BOT_CLIENT_ID }}
-          private-key: ${{ secrets.SENTRY_RELEASE_BOT_PRIVATE_KEY }}
-      - name: Check out current commit (${{ github.sha }})
-        uses: actions/checkout@v6
-        with:
-          token: ${{ steps.token.outputs.token }}
-          fetch-depth: 0
-
-      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v7
-        with:
-          pattern: xcframework-${{github.sha}}-*
-          merge-multiple: true
-          path: XCFrameworkBuildPath/
-
-      - name: Archive XCFrameworks for Craft
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v6
-        with:
-          name: xcframeworks.zip
-          if-no-files-found: error
-          overwrite: true
-          path: |
-            ${{github.workspace}}/XCFrameworkBuildPath/*.zip
-
-      # update-package-sha.sh uses this env variable to update Package.swift.
-      # During release Craft calls bump.sh that uses update-package-sha.sh.
-      - run: export GITHUB_RUN_ID="$GITHUB_RUN_ID"
-        env:
-          GITHUB_RUN_ID: ${{ github.run_id }}
-
-      - name: Prepare release
-        uses: getsentry/action-prepare-release@v1
-        env:
-          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ steps.token.outputs.token }}
-        with:
-          version: ${{ github.event.inputs.version }}
-          force: ${{ github.event.inputs.force }}
-          merge_target: ${{ github.event.inputs.merge_target }}
-
-      - name: Run CI Diagnostics
-        if: failure()
-        run: ./scripts/ci-diagnostics.sh
-
-  release-required-check:
-    needs:
-      [
-        files-changed,
-        build-xcframework-variant-slices,
-        assemble-xcframework-variant,
-        validate-xcframework,
-        validate-spm,
-        validate-spm-dynamic,
-        swift-build,
-        duplication-tests,
-        app-metrics,
-        ready-to-merge-gate,
-      ]
-    name: Release
-    # This is necessary since a failed/skipped dependent job would cause this job to be skipped
-    if: always()
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      # If any jobs we depend on fails gets cancelled or times out, this job will fail.
-      # Skipped jobs are not considered failures.
-      - name: Check for failures
-        if: contains(needs.*.result, 'failure') || contains(needs.*.result, 'cancelled')
-        run: |
-          echo "One of the release check jobs has failed." && exit 1
+    name: Release a new version
+    steps:
+    - name: Get auth token
+      id: token
+      uses: actions/create-github-app-token@v1
+      with:
+        app-id: ${{ vars.SENTRY_RELEASE_BOT_CLIENT_ID }}
+        private-key: ${{ secrets.SENTRY_RELEASE_BOT_PRIVATE_KEY }}
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      with:
+        token: ${{ steps.token.outputs.token }}
+        fetch-depth: 0
+    - name: Prepare release
+      uses: getsentry/craft@v2
+      env:
+        GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ steps.token.outputs.token }}
+      with:
+        version: ${{ inputs.version }}
+        force: ${{ inputs.force }}
+        merge_target: ${{ inputs.merge_target }}
+        path: '|'