In the Zwift Hot Topic series we focus on popular discussions, controversies, questions, or creative ideas in the Zwift community. We’ll share a couple of different perspectives, but we want to hear your thoughts, too. So read on and chime in below!
Leveling up is one way that many modern video games show progression. It’s a clear indicator that your hard work and skillful gameplay are paying off.
This can come with fun rewards like new abilities or gear for your character or avatar. In Zwift, we can unlock fun cosmetic kit items and the chance to get new Drop Shop equipment.
It’s also a kind of shorthand for how experienced you are at that game. That level 60 rider you see cruising around Watopia probably knows more of the ins and outs of Zwift than one who’s level 10. That number signifies the time and effort they’ve put in over the years.
But recently, Zwift changed how levels work. The XP needed to reach each cycling level is now less than it used to be, and users are being shifted to their new number with accelerated leveling. (Learn more about the new Zwift level system in this article!)
Does this cheapen higher levels? Is it disrespectful to more experienced Zwifters? After riding so long to reach level 60, now someone else can get there with a lot less work.
In fact, it even takes less XP to reach level 100 than it used to take to reach level 60. A Twitch streamer called DrWeebles said this feels like a downgrade.
DrWeebles: “I worked really darn hard and put a lot of time into Zwift to get to level 60 and get the XP that I have, and I prefer if levels that are added increase my XP from where it is now, not bring it backwards.”
A Zwifter who goes by Hardclaws responded with some counterpoints. He pointed out that other games have rebalanced levels in a similar way so they can become more accessible and rewarding to newer players.
Hardclaws: “Reducing the experience required to level up is ok and it’s nothing new. If you get on World of Warcraft now you can level way quicker than you could when the game was originally released. It’s how the world is and always been when it comes to levels and makes it more appealing.”
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Being able to level up faster helps to keep people motivated and engaged with Zwift, especially when they may not be riding as much as the “power users.” If the next level and unlock is just 100XP away, they’re more likely to ride just a little bit longer than if they had 500 points to earn.
I like having more rewards to chase. I know the promise of something new and shiny can tempt me to do more riding than I normally would!
Also, it’s not like the old leveling system really made sense. The amount of XP you needed to get from one level to the next would go up and down inconsistently. The new system gradually increases the XP needed to level up, making it more intuitive.
Zwift did try to give max-level riders something with this update. Level 100 riders will still see their progress bar fill up as they ride. Once it is filled, they will earn 50,000 Drops and the progress bar will reset again.
Hold on. Does there even need to be a maximum level?
Hardclaws: “I don’t get why there is even a level cap anyway. Just let levels keep ticking on. Who cares if someone is level 1000? (It) just shows they ride a lot. At least if you don’t have a cap on the levels then you never have to worry about this.”
Weebles agreed that he might be able to accept the XP rescaling if levels continued indefinitely. Of course, if that happened, Zwift couldn’t continue to give unlocks past a certain point. Maybe they could release more over time. At least riders would get the satisfaction of continued progress – and bragging rights!
Your Thoughts
What do you think? Did Zwift make the right call with these changes, or is there a better way to handle XP and levels that can motivate everyone?
Levels are levels. Not terribly important to me. I do appreciate that each level is the same amount from the next. Not sure why it wasn’t linear like that from the beginning.
They’ve not made it linear. The amount of XP required to leave up increases every 5 levels.
I agree with DrWeebles. Although I have not reached level 60, I have been busting my butt to get where I’m at. Now it seems like less of an accomplishment. Meh.
Sounds like you’re the winner here. Ridden lots, almost level 60, a new goal to chase: lvl 100, being one of the few with such a high level, level up fast again, … Seems quite okay.
As pre-update lvl 25 I appreciate the update a lot.
I can’t believe the backlash Zwift have received from this. It made sense to adjust the levels. Obviously if you bring in 100 levels you have to think about making it accessible to me users. However with the discount and accelerated XP benefits for level 60 plus riders it may have made sense to either make the levels 15k xp or give riders the option to opt out of the discounts and accelerated xp. But I honestly find it amusing that people are getting upset about this change.
It’s too easy now. It took me a year to go from 50 to 60. Now it may take only 9 months to do the next 40 levels. #nerfed and there’s nothing I’m excited to unlock.
Exacly. With the weekly 500 XP for tbe strike I level up 6 levels per month. That is nothing to strive for, no accomplishment, nothing to be proud of. Levels went from achivement to just a number to be ignored. That is likely the opposite of what Zwift had in mind.
Agreed. I think I spent half the winter last year just trying to clear level 35. I’ve already jumped five levels since the update this year. It went from too hard to way too easy.
i was a lv 60 for a really long time & i dont care too much about it myself, but i can see why people are feeling this way. its about having their hard work devalued.
I’m not totally sure how I think about it. Myself being lvl 43 pre update am somehow happy, that I can now gain levels quicker. Although I don’t understand how this works, as I will be having loads more XP when the acceleration ends, but so it is…
I can understand the thoughts some higher lvl zwifters have, but on the other hand, I use zwift for training through winter, not for gaining levels and stuff. Therefore, if you feel your “hard work” is devalued, one could argue that the idea of zwifting being “hard work” might just not be the best way to see things.
Just some thoughts from my side.
From someone still on level 28, I’m really enjoying the faster level shifting. I have switched to free rides to start to complete all the different routes and loving it. There are many fine details in Zwift that I’m just not interested in really, the focus is average power and heartrate and just hitting a target distance goal each week. Probably will even stick with the same frame and wheelset rather than faking it with an upgrade, why think you are getting faster when really you’re not ?
I am with you. Switched myself to the steel frame with nice wheels, and cannot tell the difference in game. Just enjoying the routes, challenging myself and improving fitness.
Agreed I think the Tron bike looks silly, prefer to stick with the likes of my Canyon with Zip 808 wheels. Prefer a more realistic in game experience.
It’s nice to have unlocks to chase again. I’m aiming for level 72 by New Year’s and I can keep leveling up every three or four days until I reach 100.
I for one do do feel that the new level up structure has diminished the amount of time and effort that it took to get to level 60. However anyone who is level 60+ knows how hard it was to get there. I have levelled up 3 times in 3 weeks, under the new structure, so should reach level 100 in around 40 weeks. It took nearly 4 years to reach 60. Ride on guys. Merry Christmas & happy new year.
The 20k needed for some levels in the old system might have been a little too much. On the other hand the 4300 I have now to get to the new one is perhaps a bit too little.
Making it go on from level 100 onwards sounds like a nice plan to me. Just increase the xp needed to go from there by a lot so people wont cruise through the levels. Increase it by 10k xp every 5 levels or so.
And I dont know how much is allowed by the brands of jerseys and bikes but I would love more paintschemes on the current available frames and perhaps trainingshirts from pro teams, or even old pro teams shirts like the iconic shits from the past. Plenty to think of as rewards.
I’m at level 54 within weeks of hitting 50. Now it’s just a matter of putting in miles with a pace bot for a week and you are at the next level all of a sudden. I liked it better when it was a challenge to reach the next level. Yes, when all is said and done, it’s a game, but I wish they hadn’t made it so easy to move up, especially when you’ve busted your Bianchi for 4 years.
Why is it even a big deal? Leveling up is only going to unlock some random kits or accessories most people will only wear a few times, if ever. As long as Zwift keeps up with adding levels and prizes so we’re not stuck at the top levels, I’m fine with it. Zwift should partner with companies to have real life tangible rewards like discounts or schwag.
Yes, I’ve been on Zwift for over 7 years, and can’t say there’s been much to excite me when levelling up recently, I’ve already got so many jerseys, socks, gloves and shoes that I could most probably ride with a different combination every day for several years. At the lower levels there were definitely some frames and wheels that motivated me, and the climbing challenge for the tron bike was the biggest motivation.
It would be nice to see a few tangible rewards at the higher levels, maybe a months free subscription or $20 to spend in the Zwift shop when reaching level 100.
Zwift made leveling up way too easy, especially for riders below level 60. Zwift should not have made 0-60 any different than before. At least I know my level 60 was harder to obtain than any of the noobs. Zwift, get rid of the easy participation trophy. Make it harder. Rule #5
I feel some of the arguments for the new scheme being a bit more (too?) easy to level up to be justified. Being a regular with pace partners makes leveling up an every other day event, an I am not one of the longest daily ride zwifters in the group. Fun while it lasts, but then it will likely be another long wait for >L100, similar to >L50 and >L60 before this. Not confident that is a problem though. As some say, “what gets measured gets done”. Is there any harm in giving perks for racking up the km’s or miles. Probably not.
Unlimited levels seem the way to go. Keep the “unlocks”, they’re kind of goofy anyway.
Or stagger the unlocks so it’s not every level. Like a new jersey every 25 levels or something so it actually feels meaningful. Personally, I could care less about digital clothing for my video game character but some people are into that stuff. I agree with the unlimited levels.
The last thing I need is more level up garbage in my garage. I want less levels so I get less meaningless junk I have to scroll past to find the two jerseys o actually use
Absolute screws the old-timers. We’ve got NOTHING left to work for. Thought of yet another virtual kit is a joke. Drops don’t do a thing because we have tens of millions and bought everything worth buying that we’ll never use. Just make everyone level 100 when they start… such crap.
Yo, Steve – and I say this from a place of love – it’s a game. What I think we are really working for is some fitness, some focused time on a bike, maybe a virtual carrot or two, and some motivation from / with other riders from all over the world. Deep breath my dog, let’s not loose sight of what matters?
Yes, a game that Zwift spends millions of dollars on making us care about it so that we subscibe. Don’t shame Steve for caring when caring about the game is what Zwift tries very hard to make us do. Caring about levels is one motivator, one thing that gets people off their ass and onto the bike.
I’m sorry but needing an arbitrary number as a sense of motivation is silly. Your egos are hurt because others can get the same level as you, but easier. What you should be more concerned about is why you’re getting blown out by lower levels who are taking training more serious because they want to become better athletes.
“I’m sorry but needing an arbitrary number as a sense of motivation is silly.”
Why is it silly? Different people are motivated by different things, you are falling into the trap of thinking everyone is just like you. And, even if it is silly, then whats wrong with that? Anything that gets someone off the couch and onto the bike is a good thing.
“Your egos are hurt because others can get the same level as you, but easier.”
You’re projecting here. People’s ego’s aren’t involved in leveling. It’s a personal achievement and motivation.
“What you should be more concerned about is why you’re getting blown out by lower levels who are taking training more serious because they want to become better athletes.”
My man, people ride for different reasons then you. That is not the motivation or goal for many people.
It’s silly because Rider level at the end of the day means absolutely nothing, this isn’t world of Warcraft bros where you get stronger as you level up, you can half ass these rides to get a higher level, big whoop we’re really impressed. If you’re obsessed with your rider level and then throw a fit like most comments on here, it’s your ego talking, you put more time in than others so you are better, that’s really all it’s about in this e-peen contest. Merry Christmas.
You’re doing a lot straw man arguments.
“Levels don’t make your character stronger” <- no one said or expects them to, people can still be happy to have a personal achievement that they put in a certain amount of work into a goal.
"big whoop we’re really impressed" <- no one is trying to impress anyone, you are projecting.
"If you’re obsessed with your rider level and then throw a fit like most comments on here, it’s your ego talking, you put more time in than others so you are better" <- you are just repeating the same things here. If people in here are throwing a fit in the comments, then what are you doing? The exact same thing. No one thinks they are better than others. It's like someone having a 40th birthday party and you saying "oh you managed to live longer than others so you think you are better than others, big whoop!". People can put time into a goal without thinking it makes them better than others. But you seem to be obsessed with that idea, which is why I think you are projecting, I suspect you have a need to be better than others.
I welcome the changes, I just find it interesting how many don’t due to how much effort it took for them to get to the point that it did. If you wake up in the morning and feel like you’re a level 1 loser or a level 100 hero that’s your ego talking and it’s nasty. Usually in games when more levels are added the other levels get adjusted, I don’t see how zwift is much different to make the experience more fluid for all riders. Most people who complain without understanding why things are changed speak out of ego which you seem to be doing as well. I’m not better than anyone here, I’m only trying to compete with myself.
And btw, your dumb analogy about older people and their age is actually true. Many old people find themselves better than the younger generation simply because they have lived longer. Where have you been dude? Have you not heard the phrase ‘respect your elders’? I wonder why they demand respect from the younger generation. No go away with your gaslighting.
I agree that different things motivate different people. and sure they may get some people Zwifting kore. But the levels don’t motivate me. actually they mildly annoy me, with the silly rewards like socks. id like to be able to turn levels off (and drops, which I already have 14 million of and nothing to spend these on). I’m sure that opting out of these would not be difficult to implement.
I agree…but like many have said the time, effort, sweat and kilometers meant something. I’d look at people on the higher levels with awe and reverence at their effort and commitment. Now I’m racking up new levels almost weekly. I guess I feel a bit cheated, but I’m definitely fitter 🤣
Back in college I played a computer game on the mini computer (Vax 11/780) called Moria, and it was an early D&D style game (think Diablo without the active characters) and it had ‘no bottom’. So many of those types of games have a bottom, that’s where the bag monsters live. With Moria, if you ever got below 1,000, it wasn’t much different than 100, except more and tougher monsters, and more of them. One person got caught in a ‘transport trap’ that usually took players down a few levels, but their character got caught in something, and over a day later was still falling. They eventually ended up at a level in the high 6 digits, and their avatar was killed within minutes when people called them back to keep playing. Where I’m going with this is that game was addicting as the horizontal layers had no limits too, so people could play that game for hours, days, a weekend, a week, and when you got to ‘the unofficial bottom’, it reset with easier monsters and it just kept on going. That ‘limit’ was somewhere in the mid 4 figures as I remember so the player that fell for hours fell through several resets.
Zwift could be setup to have no limit too, and do essentially the same thing, providing a ‘jersey’ with the level number, and maybe every 50 or 100 provide some other virtual trinket. (Or maybe give riders ‘special powers’ when they are finally over 1,000? Stealth, transport, extra speed, etc) Maybe when you get to 1,000 you can make your own bike? At least virtual goodies is cheaper than the physical t-shirts that Peloton sent out for 100 rides. Making riders able to level up quicker does tarnish the game and reward system. Yeah, it would take a lot to get to 100, but it SHOULD take a lot to get there. If every actor could get an Oscar, what is the value of them, and what would earlier winners think about their significant ‘top of their career’ was now incredibly easy to get. I was surprised, leveling up so quickly post update, I thought it was because I was so close to 60, but to think that now I’ll ascend a lot quicker, I’m a little miffed that I don’t get credit for the hard work (harder work!) that it took to get here. How fair would it be to give everyone over 60 an instant boost to 80?
I ran an 11/750… Happy VMS days😀
Great change for customer appeal. and engagement. Horrible for serious riders that have walked the walk. The one thing I don’t understand is why an upper bound to levels, if there is no upper bound then swift could have up leveling accordingly the serious riders that deserve higher level
Yes it is way to easy. I’m nearing level 64 without much effort.
I don’t find it fun to re-earn a level that I already have the XP for. It should be optional. Having a “prestige” system where you can reset after you reach the top is a better solution IMO.
It took me 3 years to reach level 43 and I was proud of that because the friend who introduced Zwift to me is still level 33.
With the new level system I reach a further level each week for about half a year with just a few rides. Does not make any sense to me. In fact, I have no clue, as well, why levels are limited.
Unlocks could be algorithmically designed and dropped at new (infinite) levels, with coolness being subject to some randomness, like attributes on rare and unique drops in other games. Design consideration need not be a constraint to this branch of thinking.
Levels have become meaningless. I currently have around 1.3 million XP which is about level 400. (lol)
I think before anyone complains you need to consider the best thing about Zwift, the large user base. The large amount of users is what makes Zwift a great platform for virtual cycling.
This change is obviously aimed at newer users so they have an instant reward to chase and helps encourage the use of the platform and that then leads to bigger group rides, better racing and more fun clubs. I don’t see how increasing the user base is a bad thing as it makes all our riding experiences more enjoyable.
In regards to those at lvl 60 who feel ripped off, do you actually? If your at lvl 60 you likely stopped caring about lvls some time ago, you also probably have more drops than you can actually use. Is this change really going to affect you mutch at all? Not likely. But for a little while now you can get some new kit, and hopefully more riders means a few new friends.
My last little rant… I get that alot of people refer to Zwift as a game, but is it? It certainly has game aspects, but I have always just thought of it as a tool. Use this tool in the way you enjoy most, I don’t see why it needs to be anymore complicated than that. And hopefully recent changes to Zwift bring more riders, and perhaps more income will result in more roads to ride, more new bikes and wheels and a better interface as technology evolves.
Now just go and enjoy your ride.
I don’t ride Zwift for levels and virtual swag. I ride to ride and the community. I’m above level 35, not sure of the exact number because it isn’t important to me. I just enjoy checking out the different worlds and routes and finding a ride that fits my mood for the day 😉. I feel a bit like I accomplished something when the level up happens but it is quickly forgotten.
I ride because I like Zwift and the community of riders. It beats riding while looking at a bare wall in my basement, which is where I was 12 years ago for half the year. I don’t care about levels, kit, gear or anything else as long as I can ride and enjoy the time no matter how much I’m suffering physically.
Anything that encourages the Zwift community to grow and keeps us riding is fine with me.
The only time I cared about levels was six years ago when I was working towards Level 12 (or around there) so I could ride the Alpe and some other routes. To make me feel like the Levels actually mean something, I’d rather Zwift change the approach.
I think Levels would be more important if the unlocks were more evident. For example, you dont get a hat until Level 20, gloves until Level 40, a bike cant be Red until Level 60, Yellow until Level 80, Tie-Dye until 100, etc (these are random examples, not the actual goals I’d expect). This would mean when you see someone with a Tie-Dye bike, you immediately know they have crossed Level 100 and earned it (this will also encourage users to have tie-dye bikes or gloves or whatever on their avatar instead of them being silly accessories right now).
Another idea is to expand the badges more based on Levels, so at certain Level intervals you dont see (and cannot earn) certain badges. For example you cannot earn the Ride the Alpe 25 times badge until Level 50, the 1200 Watt output badge until Level 60, etc (again, random examples, dont kill me for the specifics). This can also applies to route badges.
Additionally, I would love to see special event categorized by Level (as well as w/kg). It would be fun to ride a race with Level 50+ people at my w/kg classification and even have special prizes for those types of events.
Finally, I would love to see a Zwift leaderboard for XP (maybe there is one and I’m unaware of it). But a leaderboard related to XP will motivate many of the riders that chase the carrots, me included. Break the leaderboard down by certain filters so I’m not in position #39,036 and instead tell me that I’m #357 for my age, weight, and/or country, and I’ll earn those extra XP every ride just to climb a few positions and try to get to #1. It will also seriously motivate those guys at the top to keep their position (do I hear year round Zwifting to avoid losing my ranking?). That will also eliminate the level being meaningless if we switch the focus to the total XP.
In the absence of those ideas, to me Levels are a bit silly, and are irrelevant to my time on Zwift. Anyway, thats just my random thoughts that I felt like sharing since I haven’t seen anything similar on here. Ride On!
Nasty business policy 🙁
I feel that levels are a good motivation to get a bit more done, so I am for the levels being achievable … to a certain point. Because especially at the low levels, it has become so easy to level up, that it is no longer something to aim for, it just happens all the time!
I recently started a new account to get the fun of all the early levelling up again, then they did this change. And with the levels being easier and the new streak mode, I am now levelling up once or even twice every single ride. I have banners flying over the screen with achievements and unlocks half of my ride. It’s not motivational any more, when you don’t even have time to check what the next level is before it has been reached.
The first 5 levels are 750 XP each. You get 1/2 to 2/3 of that for the new streaks. The rest are there by XP given for achievements. Then you have route badges for everything at the start. And then the XP for distance. If anybody has ever managed to ride more than 3 times before hitting level 6, they are doing very, very short rides.
I hope it gets better at higher levels, but the first 15-20 levels are something that just flies by in a few weeks now. Not something to aim for and be motivated by…
Claus, you appear to be a very experienced rider who just started a new account. I don’t think you are the target for the lower levels. When I started riding not long ago, I couldn’t go for more than 15 minutes at a time twice a week because the saddle was killing my behind and my legs were toast already. Even now, it will take new riders a while to get through the first levels. I think that the streaks are an excellent motivational tool to make them get on the bike again.
I’m at level 45 after 4 years subscribing to Zwift, though I spend most of my time riding Trainerroad, as I prefer more structure to my riding and it’s only my gains that matter. Most of my longer rides have been on zwift though, as the social aspect is great for 5+ hour rides, hence the sole reason for my continued subscription. I’m sure some people will be upset about this, but just like racing in Zwift, it’s meant to be fun and if you win a race, good on you, it makes you go back for more, but most of the time, there’s an 80kg rider destroying your efforts as they’ve put themselves in the 50kg bracket. I’d be maxxed out on levels of I just used Zwift, but for me, I don’t give a damn if somebody has achieved a higher level than me with less effort, it’s all about getting back outside in the spring, feeling like my winter indoor efforts have been worth the suffering, but hey, that’s just how I feel. Just ride on 👍
Just wanted to let you know I was a part of the initial beta group and the new points system is a huge disappointment. A lot of matching feedback from my friends. Won’t be recommending Zwift anymore.
Its too easy to level up now. It doesnt mean much anymore and in my opinion its a bad move. Its made the Zwift experience worse for me but i dont see how they can roll it back.
Faster leveling up is a mistake. They ‘ll be reducing the gradient on AdZ next to make the Masochist badge faster to get… Mistake!
I’m a relatively new rider at level 14 and also running at level 17 (out of 20). When running, reaching the next level takes so long that I’m not even paying attention anymore, only when I’m at the final 10% of a level. If this was the same for riding then I’m definitely happy with the change.
Totally agree that the levels could be infinite and maybe they could be coupled to some titles for prestige. For fellow gamers; think of the Fable series (you start as ‘chicken chaser’ and move up from there) and the Diablo series that has paragon levels after the normal levels are completed. What Zwift is doing with the extra drops sounds like the paragon system but without having the level number increase.
All we need now is the ability to “sell” our lower level bikes,wheels we acquired whilst leveling up and don’t use back to the garage for drops.👍
sure, id like to declutter and have maybe 3 or 4 bikes, all fully set up in a garage. but I don’t need the drops back – I’ve got something like 14 million and there is nothing worth spending them on.
The difference between children’s toys and adults’ toys? The cost…
I too agree with DrWeebles, but it is only a game. Come mid January 2024 I’ll be asking where is 101+
I tend to think the old system was too tough and they’ve maybe over-corrected. As context for this, I’d reached level 38 with over 10,000km done including most of the route badge bonuses and the levels had got to the point they were so far apart that I’d lost all interest in trying to get to the next one. Zwift needs to find ways of incentivising casual riders (more casual than me) to keep on going (and paying for a subscription) and maybe making the levels (and unlocks) a bit more achievable could help in a small way towards that.
Maybe their thinking is that if you’re dedicated enough to get to level 60 (or 100) then you’re not about to leave Zwift just because you’ve reached the end of the levels.
Restructuring. Local political decisions have led to a massive deterioration in healthcare provision for the rural population in the Oberpfalz. This has stirrued up my brain over the last 3 weeks and led me to cancel Zwift for the time being. Not the Zwift restructuring of levels concerns me. Since I should not and do not want to interfere in political matters – be they real or playful – let it be said that the latter are really in the realm of the profane. We have resumed playing and have noticed that the level bar is collecting faster in the opposite direction. That’s nice. We wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas season with family and friends. Have fun playing Zwift. Sincerely B. & *~cc~* (our most favourite genre of literature is still transgressive fiction, so forgive us our strange mood to tell our story 😉
I love Zwift. However, it seems like these decisions are made without involving the Zwift community. Who was asking for level restructuring? I think we could all name 5 other things we’d like to see changed first.
In my view, Zwift could benefit from having an active community representative involved in all future game-changing decisions. I nominate Eric Schlange. 😎
What I liked was having a jersey example 25 marked on the back I was really disappointed with the jersey 50
I’m never changing my Jersey because the whole outfit is a WattBike special and pretty nobody else on Zwift has it. To get it you need to be riding a WattBike and you have to be able to hit 1000W during a sprint. You were able to get this at pretty much any level.
Think unlimited levels with 50.000 drops per level would be fine. It’s not like you will crush the competition with lvl 356 anyhow, but it shows you are really dedicated.
People’s egos about an arbitrary number.
I’m amazed at peoples egos on here to be honest. Pretty much all the socks and kit along the way is a waste of time. I saved enough to get a frame and wheelset changed only once up to level 28 as have just stayed with it.
People misunderstanding why people like levels and projecting their own business on others…
Funny because you’re projecting. Merry Christmas 🎁
What am I projecting exactly?
You think I don’t understand why these 55kg weiners are crying about their precious work grinding levels and thinking all of that hard work having an arbitrary number is better than others? Aren’t these the same people who starve themselves and eat like rabbits because they’re scared to gain weight because that’ll make them ‘slower’? LOL, yeah let me be all ears and soak up all of their bullshit .Tim you can pick apart my responses and gaslight all you like but I’m rather bored talking to guys who give zero substance but in return speak with their ego because I’m making sense. Gaslighting. Go away.
Yes it’s a game, but it’s the miles ridden that counts.
If we are having levels, then the XP needed for each level increase should be more than the previous level.
1 – 1000 xp
2 – 1500 xp
3 – 2000 xp
Etc etc.
But can we instead have on the riders nearby list with our names THE YEARS WE HAVE BEEN ON ZWIFT.
A 7 year veteran is serious stuff. A gold star with a 7 in it is great next to your name.
That will identify the riders using the Zwift Program the most. And they will have more miles, xp, drops and crap in the garage than people with a blue 4 star. 😁 😁 😁
Zwift should show riders their Zwift Eddington number. Chasing that 160 km or 200 km Eddington number will take some time.
Things like the Eddington number are a good example of a challenge that goes on without a limit and by its nature gets progressively harder to rank up, all without any need for outside control…
More of that sort of thing! 😉
There shouldn’t be a level cap. I don’t care about levels at all, I think I’m about level 45 or so at this point. But I think seeing somebody on level 289 would seem like a flex. Mainly, I think Zwift needs to maintain challenges – like the tron bike – as riders progress. Getting the tron was a huge motivator for me. After that, there were a few things like the disc wheels, and I look forward to fire socks. But meaningful challenges are too far and few in between. I’ve got millions of drops and it means nothing to me. The rewards don’t need to be crazy, they don’t need to be game changing bikes or equipment, but stuff that clearly shows you’ve worked hard for it would be great.
It’s basic economics. Things have value because of the effort/labor to make them, and the rarity of said item.
They double whammied levels. Easier to make and by extension less rare. Of course the people who had them and valued them are upset. They worked hard to get them, even if they were “virtual”. The sweat and time and dedication was real and the number was a representative, a short hand, a currency that represented their investment.
I’d caution against demoralizing the long tail of users in an app. There are other apps and they mostly need passionate people to join and be the connectors to build a broader platform.
Now is their chance to break the spell and get involved somewhere else
Real riders know, making progress takes time. Leveling up every 500 km is definitely not necessary. Sure, it’s a game, but isn’t it childish to think these unlocks will keep real riders motivated? When I started, levels have been an indicator of outstanding endurance. Levels 50+ even meant extraordinary commitment. My most wanted unlocks were the Tron bike & the fire socks, and purchase was my IRL bike. All other unlocks, frankly, I don’t mind. I would even prefer, the Tron should be time-limited. 50 km per year should be fair to defend it.
Anyway, from a mid- and long-term perspective, I would like to know Zwift’s plan to give us other unlocks than socks, kits, caps & shoes of different designs.
Leveling up was definitely too difficult in the old system. Even though it took “only” 15k XP instead of 30k XP after level 55 if you already had 750k+ XP, that was still a pretty long time for everyone who isn’t riding multiple hours per day.
Now they might have made it a little too easy (I’m at level 65 now I think) but I definitely prefer to level up every 3 days instead of every 3 weeks even though the unlocks are obviously pretty meaningless anyway. Except for the fire socks, those really are fire.
Who do I complain to about my app not working I’m presently paying for subscription but my app never works I downloaded it five times and uninstalled it five times what is going on with you guys app
Zwift Support.
i don’t ride more (or less) because of where my level bar is … other than to hit the next km mark. The actually items earned for leveling up aren’t motivating enough to turn a 40 minute ride into a two hour ride.
I’m just here to advance my campaign to make the level 100 unlock a Z tattoo.
It would only be fair to get an IRL “Z” tattoo first, and then send the picture to Zwift so they can make a matching one for your avatar 🙂
😉 The only tattoos I have are scars from cycling accidents.