UPDATE: levels 51-60 were released in Zwift’s September update.
Zwift recently published their “This Season On Zwift” (TSOZ) press release summarizing plans for new Zwift features through the end of 2022. And while that press release gives some high-level details of upcoming features, we like to dig a little deeper here at Zwift Insider.
This is one in a series of individual posts discussing specific upcoming features in more depth.
It’s finally happening, veteran Zwifters: level 51 is arriving! Buried in Zwift’s TSOZ FAQ are multiple references to new levels. We even did a bit of digging and found out what sort of XP we’ll have to earn in order to level up! Here’s the chart:
| XP Required | Item Unlock | |
| Level 50 | 500,000 | Level 50 kit + Fire Socks |
| Level 51 | 520,000 | Junk Food Kit Pack |
| Level 52 | 540,000 | April Fools 80’s Kit |
| Level 53 | 560,000 | Fun Shaped Glasses |
| Level 54 | 580,000 | April Fools 80s Paint Job |
| Level 55 | 600,000 | Rear View Mirror Glasses |
| Level 56 | 630,000 | Animal Print Pack |
| Level 57 | 660,000 | Cute Socks |
| Level 58 | 690,000 | April Fools 80s Socks |
| Level 59 | 720,000 | Backwards Hat |
| Level 60 | 750,000 | Level 60 Kit |
Note: at levels 50 and 60 you will receive 100,000 Drops. You’ll also receive a 25,000 Drops bonus at level 55.
What Took So Long?
Many long-time Zwifters have been stuck on level 50 for months (or even years). And even though repeated requests were made to add more levels, Zwift seemed stuck between two excuses:
- “There are so few level 50 Zwifters and we need to put our time into updates that benefit everyone”
- We want to do something better than simple levels. Perhaps dividing the year into seasons (like many video games do) where you level resets and you see how high you can get before the next season begins…
It felt like ZwiftHQ wanted the perfect solution (fancy seasonal levels), and that got in the way of implementing a simple and acceptable interim solution (just adding more levels). Consequentially we’ve been stuck at level 50 since December 2018. Thankfully they’re finally throwing us a bone with 10 more levels. That should keep us busy for a while!
How Long to Level Up?
Based on our calculations, Zwifters can expect to earn 500-700XP per hour of riding. Moving from level 50 to 60 requires a total of 250,000XP. If we assume 600XP per hour, that works out to 250000/600=416.67 hours of riding. That’s 42 10-hour riding weeks, or 1 year of 8-hour weeks.
But that doesn’t include XP you’ve banked, if you’re already at level 50.
Accelerated Level-Ups
You never stop accumulating XP in Zwift, even if you reach the top level. It takes 500,000 XP to reach level 50, but I’ve banked over 1.3 million XP!
So how does Zwift handle this situation when they release new levels?
They could just grant me all the new levels as soon as I log in. Unlocks, unlocks, and more unlocks! But that’s not much fun, since I don’t get the pleasure of working to achieve a level.
Instead, Zwift will use “accelerated leveling”. This is a bit tough to wrap one’s head around, but the big idea is your banked XP is combined with new XP to help you level up more quickly than if you had to earn all the required XP from scratch.
When Zwift released levels 26-50 they allowed us to opt into 8x accelerated leveling (read this post for details about how that worked). That meant that as long as you still had banked XP, effectively every 1XP you earned unlocked 7XP from your bank, and those 8XP were then applied to your leveling up total.
It’s a bit confusing, admittedly. But it’s a good solution that rewards Zwifters who have banked XP, while also giving them the leveling up experience.
For levels 51-60, Zwift will automatically apply accelerated leveling to everyone who is already at level 50, but the acceleration will be at a rate of just 2x. That means each 1XP you earn will unlock 1XP from your bank, so you’ll level up 2x faster than a “typical” Zwifter. This extra fast leveling up works out to approximately 21 10-hour weeks, or half a year of 8-hour weeks, to reach level 60. (Or maybe a week if you’re Tim Searle).
Release Date
Zwift hasn’t given a release date for levels 51-60, but we know it’s coming in 2022. Since the levels are already all worked out, we’re guessing they will be released in September or October.
Questions or Comments?
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Zwift is completely overthinking this. They should do infinite levels, and each level up requires, say, 25% more XP than the previous level up. The level reward is a jersey with the level nr on it, or something equally useless. In the beginning, Zwift completely understood the gamification aspect of training. Sometimes (actually, most of the time) it’s a grind, but if you make some tiny progress towards something that makes it a little easier/more tempting. So there was levels. And missions. And challenges. Now, these are all gone for experienced zwifters. Why? Add infinite levels. Make them progressively harder… Read more »
This is the way. This sounds like the Diablo 3 model where levels and gear just keep going but monsters gain strength slightly faster. (The whole game is one random dungeon crawl, though there are also seasonal ladderboards) The result is that you settle into an equilibrium where each time you play you progress slightly slower than the last time. It’s also how route XP could work. Keep giving out XP for routes completed, but each subsequent time it’s worth less than the previous time. 1/N where N = number of completions should do it. This will give incentive to… Read more »
Can you imagine having a fixed qty of “stat points” to assign your rider so you could build up your character into specific rider types? Full MMOCRPG style (Massively Multiplayer Online Cycling Game :p)
Overthinking and underdelivering. We will be back carping about level ceiling before we know it. This is so unimportant but Zwift by nor delivering it have made it soo much bigger a problem that it should be. Zwift are a laughing stock ( literally if anyone remembers the situation when pro riders asked about this in a public showcase ride) over this trivial issue . For goodness Zwift what are you doing . Stop hardcoding this make levels a simple lookup table and move onto doing something else that really does need some more in depth focus. As for trying… Read more »
As a long time Level 50 Zwifter, I am amused and a bit excited to get out of the “50 Lifer” level. I am not a “gamer” so that aspect does not motivate me, but specialty awards / unlocks do. Looking forward to it. With a Rider Score of 615042, I really do not know what that means, or of what benefit it is to me in Zwift, but am willing to learn if it means there is more fun ahead for doing what I already do . . .
Any word about running XP levels beyond 21?
Apart from running Pace Partners Zwift has done next-to-nothing for Zwift Run for a couple of years and the “This Season on Zwift” announcement does nothing to change that. Run is gradually becoming degraded due to inattention. Sadly, this won’t change while it remains non-subscription.
Is there a way of viewing an XP table to see where you sit on the “league table”?
Zwift Insider have one on their website listing all levels (to 50 – I suspect sun 60) stating the points required per level and the unlock item you receive.
Not quite what you’re asking for but this is a table of riders who have cycled the furthest
https://zwiftpower.com/?sid=c87dec90dcd673df5f0b70a94325761f
I’ve been a level 50 for a little while.. for a carrot!! .. reach level 60 and your concept ( tron) bike is given a 10% reduction in weight permanently. And a tron Jersey which glows ..
Just give me the option to make the wheels a totally different color (I know you can tweak it). Or give me a real red Tron. Something spiffy for only level 60 riders. Or 70 or whatever
By level 50 the last thing you need is more Stuff or even more Drops, just need more levels as this is enough. (~1.1m XP, 31m drops, too many free tops, socks, bikes…)
You say there’s nothing you need? What about a quick-pick garage in the UI that filters out the junk you don’t need and lets you pre-configure five commonly used setups–aero, climbing, gravel etc.–so your don’t have to slog through all the stuff you’ve accumulated to pick the right setup for the ride?
I’ve been saying we need a “trunk in the attic” thingy to put those kits in that we will never wear again.. Get them off the garage page and have a link to open the trunk if we find we really do need that certain kit. I dare say, I’d put half the kits I have in that trunk.
As I wrote in another post, Zwift should also give riders that are below Level 50 some form of a bonus, double, or triple XP incentive to continue pursuing Level 60. I imagine some novice and recreational Zwift users who have spent years attempting to reach Level 50 will be frustrated the levels were raised and cancel their subscriptions– it’s a concept well established with gaming apps. Remember, the majority of riders have yet to reach Level 50 and Zwift needs to retain every user they can as the pandemic boom in home training and subscription apps wanes. As a longtime… Read more »
Riders at 50 and above aren’t getting any bonus, just a weird way of giving them the xp they already earned.
There’s no benefit for people like me who’ve been L50 for a while. I’m “losing” 600,000xp that I have to sweat for again while being downgraded 30 levels in the process (equivalent under the old scale to L80; bumped back down to L50 for no good reason).
Why should Zwift’s most ardent supporters – as evidenced by their acquisition of xp through time and effort – get screwed the hardest in this silly and ill-considered bit of nonsense?
Probably because “who cares”…. if you’ve exceeded level 50 in zwift, odds are it is not the prospect of another ugly kit you’ll never use keeping you zwifting.
At last I have been at level 50 for over a year. When I achieved it I felt let let down as nothing happened!! Not even the confetti as when you achieve a pb !!
I had enough points in 2018 to zoom through to level 50. I assume I have enough to do the same for level 60. Even if only at 2x this time.
Not sure any of the rewards are interesting.
Everyone has to decide which carrot he/she needs to ride on. I think, 10 new levels to work for are better than nothing … or ?
Eric, are there some pictures for the unlock items available ?
stopping at 60 is kind of pathetic
I feel zwift doesnt really understand the concept of levels in games, we need an alternative game version where levels actually add performance to your avatar. I wouldnt mind having a racing version where you get a weight decrease percentage and a power increase based on your level, or something similar like level unlock equipment, advanced equipment that reduces drag or improves aerodynamics. Just some ideas
Infinite levels sounds good to me. It’s like life. You just keep going till you go no more. 1000 miles per level from 1 to 10. 2000 miles per level from 11 to 20. 3000 miles per level from 21 to 30. And so on … Or for the first 10 levels make it in hundreds. 100 miles to get to level 2. 200 miles to get to level 3. 300 miles to get to level 4. 500 miles to get to level 5 and so on till you get to level 10. Then from level 10 follow the above… Read more »
>> It’s like life
After level 25, you start losing drops and xp for every ridden mile, gosh!
I expect this update December 2023 because they’ll bin it in 2022 once they realize how terrible it is.
Talk about moving the goal posts. I joked with mates when I finally got to level 49 it would be just my luck Zwift would up the levels. Well this weekend I got my 50 and now I read they have done what I said. Oh well onwards and upwards lol.
already at 3,5 million xp, level 50 since march 2019
Not sure why people care about levels that give jerseys and socks personally. If someone wants to see a higher level as a progression, just do that with no reward for infinite levels. Perhaps higher levels should translate to Zwift subscription discount through loyalty and use instead.
Exactly! At the very least discounts for having to deal with all the bugs that inevitably come with each update. I’m still trying to figure out why my sprint loses over 300w from peak even though my cadence remains the same or is increasing. Zwift is wonky. And the programmers are inept.
Isn’t it logical that you need much more power to accelerate to a certain speed than to maintain such speed?
With those asinine unlocks (cute socks, fun shaped glasses, and a backward hat), the pending level increases have have certainly lost their luster. Great job Zwift. It’s like you didn’t put any effort into this one at all.
I don’t understand why zwift have such a blind spot when it comes to developing game features on their erm… game. Level unlocks, challenges, missions, achievement badges, new routes – these are all the things that made Zwift interesting and different from every other boring indoor training platform back in the day. Not everyone is motivated in the same way – and as I understand it, only a small percentage of Zwifters actually race on the platform. And yet they have thrown the vast majority of their development effort on anything related to virtual racing, including romancing the ASO, for… Read more »
That’s an extreme take to say they have contempt for users. Everyone uses it differently. I don’t care about levels or drops at all. I’d prefer new areas/roads, better graphics and a complete overhaul on racing. The zpower folks should have their own category. It’s getting worse and is ruining racing rather than making it better. Also, I feel they need to be strict on the people who have no real life results. For example: are 50+ years old, push 300+ watts and weigh 55 kilos. Laughable and in time will degrade the user experience
I’m glad to see the additional levels, but disappointed to see no mention of equipment unlocks. Perhaps something will show up.
I’m not motivated by levels themselves: it’s all about the equipment unlocks.
It would be cool if Zwift could introduce something wild like racing recumbents or something, to be unlocked at level 55 or 60. Another jersey or some tchotchke just don’t do it. https://bike-on.com/product/ice-trike-sprint-x/
Ha…. levels or no levels, the sweat expenditure is the main measure. In saying that, level 50 for some years now and XP points to burn
I hope the 60 kit is indicative of level 60 unlike the level 50 kit hardly anyone wears.
I have had level 5 set in my sights from the beginning when I joined Zwift 36.5 months ago. I am 59 miles away from level 50–the top!!…Oh, wait. Never mind. 10 more levels to go!
That level 60 shirt looks slick
Where have my Today’s Plan workouts gone? They used to throw up the next three or four workouts in my plan, now I can’t find them amywhere
Start the levels from the beginning again see how quick you can do the levels again there you go problem solved
Don’t do away with the levels Zwift. Keep adding them. Just put one guy on it to add maybe 2 levels a year 🤣😀
Thanks for this. I’m not sure I’m seeing accelerated XP as a 500,000+ XP rider on workouts.
The 24km of ZA22 Basline got me 610XP. Works out to 25XP per km.
The 22km of ZA22 Workout 1 got me 732XP. Works out to 33XP per km.
Is that the double XP for the accelerated XP we’d expect?
I am seeing 40XP per km on free rides.
As I understand the ZA22 rides are of type Workout which earn 10XPminute, regardless of distance
Can someone send me a pic of what the junk food kit unlocks look like?
Is there a way to see (post update) how many XP points I banked? After the update my total went back down to 500,000.