Zwift just released their latest “This Season on Zwift” announcement detailing key new game features and events arriving in the next few months. We’ve posted most of that press release below, and in the coming days will be diving into some of the announcements in more detail.
New Features
Watopia Expansion: The Grade
Rolling out to Zwifters in June, The Grade is designed to be a testing climb for Zwifters. Built on the West side of Zwift’s most recent expansion, Watopia’s Southern Coast, The Grade will start among the vibrant buildings of Ciudad de La Cumbre, and connect Watopia’s Southern Coast with the backside of the Epic KOM. The Grade creates a direct, very steep passage from Ciudad de La Cumbre to the top of the Epic KOM. The expansion will launch with several new routes available for freeride exploration, training, and racing.
My List
Already psyching yourself up to take on the challenge of The Grade? Soon you’ll be able to queue it up for when you next log into Zwift using the new ‘My List’ feature.
We’ve all been there – you’ve found an hour window, jump onto Zwift to squeeze in a good workout, only to lose a precious five minutes choosing between a new route and a structured workout. My List helps Zwifters plan their next session in advance so they can maximize every minute.
Using the Zwift Companion app, Zwifters will soon be able to browse the full library of Zwift workouts and routes (perfect for badge hunters) and add them to their list. These will then be shown in For You on the Zwift Home Screen the next time they log in. Never waste a minute with My List!
UPDATE: this new forum topic from Zwift says they’ll be rolling out the My List feature on May 1st, as part of the Zwift Companion app update to version 3.57.0.
HUD Refresh
Zwift’s in-game HUD is about to get a fresh new look and provide you with more information right where you need it. One of the standout features of the updated HUD is a new ‘Climb Mode’ dynamic elevation profile display. The new display will help Zwifters better pace their climbing efforts and prepare for the road ahead by utilising the same gradient shading found in the Climb Portal.
The HUD update will also allow Zwifters to customise the data fields shown in the power tile of the HUD via the in-game settings menu. At launch, Zwifters will be able to choose from Speed, Average Power, Power-to-Weight Ratio (W/KG), Cadence and Heart Rate.
With this update, the mini-map will also receive a refresh. The updated mini-map will provide greater clarity on route progression, including elevation.
Training Connections
There are many ways to train on Zwift – whether using a flexible training plan, joining a Group Workout, choosing from the 1000+ on-demand workouts, or building your own via the Custom Workout builder. For those with very specific plans in mind – whether from a coach, or another third-party training provider – Zwift’s new training API Connection will give Zwifters greater flexibility with how they want to train on the platform by providing better integration with other platforms and coaching services.
Functionally, this new API will behave much like existing third-party connections on Zwift. Once the API Connection is set up and approved, workouts built outside of Zwift will pull directly into the Zwift platform and show in the Custom Workouts folder. The training API will launch later this spring with a few launch partners. Other providers will be able to sign up for this open API later in the summer.
Events
Celebrating the Tour de France on Zwift
Zwift, the Official Training Software Provider to the Tour de France, is getting ready for Tour Fever to hit this July with a month of Tour-themed content.
Launched in time for the Tour de France last year, Zwift’s Climb Portal is ready for a busy month with eight of the most iconic climbs from the 2024 route scheduled to bring cycling fans closer to the action. For the first time this year, Zwift will be hosting Climb Portal events, bringing another dimension to this popular feature.
The Climbs coming into the Portal this summer:
- Côte des Forche – Stage: 1, Elevation: 159 m, Avg Grade: 6.3 %, Distance: 2.5 km
- Col du Galibier (Lautaret) – Stage: 4, Elevation: 563 m, Avg Grade: 6.6 %, Distance: 8.6 km
- Pas de Peyrol/Puy Mary – Stage: 11, Elevation: 628 m, Avg Grade: 6.9 %, Distance: 9.2 km
- Pla d’Adet – Stage: 14, Elevation: 873 m, Avg Grade: 8.2 %, Distance: 10.7 km
- Col de Peyresourde (Avajan) – Stage: 15, Elevation: 555 m, Avg Grade: 7.7 %, Distance: 7.2 km
Week 3:
- Isola 2000 – Stage: 19, Elevation: 1157 m, Avg Grade: 7.1 %, Distance: 16.2 km
- Col de la Couillole – Stage: 20, Elevation: 1145 m, Avg Grade: 7.2 %, Distance: 15.9 km
- La Turbie/Col d’Eze – Stage 21, Elevation: 616m, Avg Grade: 3.1%, Distance: 15.9km
Zwift’s France and Paris maps will be dressed to celebrate the Tour de France and ready to welcome Zwifters looking to join the celebrations. Those looking for a social group ride will be able to join any one of the RoboPacers leading groups 24/7 in both France and Paris throughout July and August. For the competitively-minded, ‘Vive la France’ will be the theme for ZRacing events. Lastly, the Monthly Mission will be taking place in France with a Tour-themed twist. Stay tuned for more. Vive Le Tour!
Watch the Femmes!
The Tour de France femmes avec Zwift returns in August for the third edition. For the first time, the race will start outside France with the Grand Depart set for Rotterdam on August 12th. To celebrate the occasion, Zwift’s Watch The Femmes campaign is set to take over the month of August – because you can’t be what you can’t see.
With the final stage of the race finishing on top of the famed Alpe d’Huez, Zwift’s very own Alpe du Zwift will be dressed for the occasion. Zwifters will also be able to join the celebration in the France and Paris maps, helping them feel closer to the action.
Alpe du Zwift won’t just be dressed for success. From August 18th, the day the race hits Alpe d’Huez, to August 25th, Alpe Celebration RoboPacer events will be taking place every two hours on Alpe du Zwift, perfect for anyone looking to secure a personal record.
For those seeking structured workouts, Zwift will also be releasing weekly Workouts inspired by Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift contenders.
Stay tuned for more Watch the Femmes content over the coming months!
Your Thoughts
What do you think of Zwift’s plans for the next few months? Share below!
Opening up the training API to other providers is great. Hopefully those discussions in Reno a few years back prove productive for this feature!
Nice to have another climb in watopia leading yo more joined up routes.. although sounds like a better descent than ascent!
And great that Zwift are telling us their plans
Zwift users wait 5 years for a HUD update…and STILL don’t get the things they’ve been asking for for 5 years!
Seriously, how difficult is it to include a Draft gauge, a Groups/Peloton type tracker, and options to change the values shown in the rider list to include things like Speed? Well the answer is that we all know by now that it’s not too difficult at all since a 1-man-band programmer has provided that and much more via Sauce For Zwift, so we’re not getting it directly in Zwift presumably because they just don’t give a ****!
Oh…and STILL no anti-cheating protections/improvements, WTF?!
Take your money elsewhere buddy
I already did. Indievelo.
Yet here you ae reading zwift news? Hmmm…
Draft Gauge is a good training tool and if you want it pay for Sauce – but learning how to draft and being good at it is a skill in zwift, as it is in real life – it’s part of the race craft that comes with time.
Maybe they don’t want to spoon feed you draft info in a race and you have to learn to surf the wheels through experience.
If you’ve been on zwift for 5 years and still don’t know how to feel the draft effect, your not very good at zwifting.
There is definitely a skill to drafting in Zwift. But I’d also argue Sauce is banned in Zwift Grand Prix races is due to Zwift feeling it provides an unfair advantage – even to the most experienced riders. Nathan Guerra, for example, uses it to refine his drafting technique among other things.
I’d pay for Sauce, but as I Zwift on an iPad (which can’t integrate Sauce), I’d also need to buy a computer to do so.
So while I don’t think the tone above is helpful, personally, I’d love access to some of Sauce’s features at some point.
you may need professional help
Totally agree with you; they never listen to the user base and continue to take wrong turns towards bad choices
I think its apparent that Zwift on the whole is keen on improving and enhancing the in game experience. I also believe they are listening to feedback. If everything was so easy to implement as so many think, there would be a whole lot more competion in the market. I’m a happy Zwift customer
So true. It is shocking how many people complain about lack of change, and then when they make a change they complain. If there is a glitch that they have to work out after a change they complain more. Some people just like to complain.
I too have been very happy with Zwift. I tried My Whoosh, More realism, but also had more glitches, no community, few riders, less events, and still there was only one other person in a race. While it worked I have to say I am enjoying Zwift far more.
Still nothing about Zwift Race Score or improving the racing experience?
They ARE working on it. But didn’t include it in this press release.
So still slated to come out in the next month or two? It would be a good idea to have it live for a few months before ZRL. Community feedback may catch some things they miss in testing.
Very excited for this!
No hard dates given. My guess is we’ll see a soft rollout this summer, with it dialed in for Zwift season this winter.
Didn’t the get rid of the guys that were working on that in their latest round of cuts?
Flint got cut, who was sort of the project lead, it seemed. But there are definitely people in-house working on it now – I talked to one guy at length last week!
New UI in game is fun. Not all the bells some folks might want but I’m excited for the change.
mini map needed a much needed refresh and I’m curious if this will include the iPad feature where there are multiple versions by clicking the mini map.
customized data is good and should offer more options down the road. I know others want MOrE data but I’m fine with the initial ones released.
new climb in Watopia is great, but wish Makuri got the climb we’ve been waiting for. Instead it’s in the climb portal.
France mission for Tour de France I’m hoping they enhance this map further. Some smaller climbs along the countryside would be great. Connecting Paris to France would be ideal.
overall good features and updates. Building blocks for future plans.
Looking at the new HUD my first reflex was “I already hate it”, but at a second look: average power, calories burned, some cutomization options – I think I might like that.
calories burned is exactly what I have been waiting for
I use the head unit of my bike for that when I am using zwift. Just a suggestion.
Yeah, if you do more than one activity in a session on zwift it’s nice to have a garmin recording the power so you know the total calories easily.
I also took a second look. It will have the potential to add other options…like drafting. I’m curious to see if there are other options to choose from, other than the four (speed, power, average power, cadence) shown.
And I’m happy average power is now a HUD option!
Some good stuff here, but am surprised there is still nothing to help us organise / clear out the garage 🙁
Any HUD update that doesn’t match Sauce for Zwift 1 to 1 in terms of options and features is an outright fail from a company the size of Zwift.
Agreed. They have a perfect example of something that is universally loved and they can’t make something as good? The new HUD looks to be an improvement for sure, but it looks to be well short of what some dude can do in his spare time in his basement.
The HUD update is like Apple finally adding a calculator to the iPad after 10 years. Throw out a crumb of something that should have been there all along and the masses will be happy.
My list (queuing workouts) was in the last what’s coming and never did. So now we are supposed to get excited for promised features arriving 6 months late?
New roads is always nice.
What is HUD, what do the initials stand for?
Head Up Display
Heads Up Display
head-up display
Are there a number of things myself and the community have been requesting for some time not present? Yes. Do I like a number of these updates? Yes.
Same
They need to make the virtual gearing user configurable…the current gearing doesnt even follow the flow of a regular cassette when you look at how the ratios increase…
I just got Zwift Play controllers this week and was surprised at how big the jumps were considering there are so many gears! It feels like bigger jumps than my 12 speed road bike.
I worked out the ratios once to what the gearing would be compared to my Campagnolo 53X39 11-29 12s block.. I think in the end there was one gear that actually matched the rollout… if I recall the 14th gear was the equivalent of a 54X18 cog and it just increased in weird increments from there on… the biggest gear is the equivalent of a 55X10 cog or something if I recall… Im trying to be fair and give it a fair shot, but Id rather run my straight block manually and know what gear Im in.. wahoo bikes have the ability to program whatever gears you want, so this shouldnt be an issue in my opinion…
The ratio on the virtual gears is so wide that the lowest and highest gears are way outside of what your 12 speed road bike cassette offers.
I haven’t gone up the radio tower with virtual shifting but on Alpe du Zwift I never get below gear 10 and sprinting I don’t go above 20. So that’s basically an 11 gear range I actively use with 90+% of the time between 15 and 18.
You can somewhat match gear 14-25 but requires a 54 or 55T chainring and a 10-25 block to match it up… Like I said, on a 53T chainring, I think there was literally one gear that exact matched any kind of rollout… I wish I still had the chart I mapped out what the equivalent gear was it was a combination of 4 chainrings (53-56) and a 10-21 block.. it just made no sense on what kind of linear scale they were trying to create…
@eric – a couple of the HUD graphic links are broken
Fixed, thanks!
Will the average power field be subject to manually triggering a lap or is it just purely an average of power across your entire ride?
Exactly,what I was wondering. If it’s for whole ride it’s not very useful compared to being able to reset it.
I really hope it is for ‘laps’, but I would be shocked if it is. Here is a feature request (now archived) from 2015 🤷♂️ https://forums.zwift.com/t/lap-button-and-lap-time-display-smoothing/6950/3. Guess I will have to keep taking my Garmin into the garage.
These are all great updates. Hopefully, they’ll slide some new additions in garage.
What about more XP Express Rides and level changes? When will that happen? Trying to complete as many levels as possible prior.
Think the levelling update is coming in May. hopefully with no more XP Express rides they are making a joke of levelling in the first place
It still requires a lot of riding to level up, I have put in more than 1,000 miles in April so far. I was looking for an exact date the change will happen.
I’ve seen stats for some riders that have done 20% of the miles of another rider yet are both very high levels. I assume from 20% rider doing every double xp event going plus badges etc.
These things should be a bonus not a driver of levels imo. Plus offering double xp express routes is just stupid. We already have 100s of events on the calendar why not support them with double xp instead
Or, one rider just rides and doesn’t care about XP accumulation and cranks out miles, whereas the other one is XP-focused and does rides to maximize XP and not necessarily miles. Some ride with Robopacers and crank out miles but finish very few routes (to generate more XP). Some others focus on route completion and other XP-generating events and don’t ride as many miles.
Levels are based on XP, not miles, even though XP can also be generated by simply cranking miles.
I like the My List and HUD update, especially the mini map. Keep em coming, ZHQ.
Extremely excited about the new road. For me, all the other features are nice, but it’s all about new roads and worlds to explore. Riding the same thing over and over gets a bit tiresome.
Awesome – HUD update long overdue and more climbs always welcome! Glad to see Watopia getting another one, and understanding using climb portal for a bunch of climbs in time for the TdF, but would love to see some more in-world climbs added.
I’m suprised it’s Watopia getting another extension rather than a new Makuri island
I think it’s better to expand Watopia as that is the map that is always available. Expanding another island means more roads but not always available. Saying that though, a Mt Fuji addition to Makuri would be good, but I’m happy with this addition.
The MyList is a great addition too, will be good to select the favourite routes for quick access.
For the next tarmac expansion, I’m torn between Makuri and France. Mt. Fuji would be awesome, but France has a lot of potential!
But happy the last two expansions have been in Watopia. I feel like we have enough maps, just need to develop those we already have.
Can the robos on the Alp match Illi Gardner’s pace?
“Zwift’s Watch The Femmes campaign is set to take over the month of August – because you can’t be what you can’t see.”
This is intriguing! with the death of GCN+ im unable to watch nearly all cycling. wishing Zwift would make the Femmes tour free to watch – that would be pretty awesome!
Quick question about the change in XP levels. Is still happening in May? Because there is no news about it in this announcement.
I believe so. It’s just not the sort of exciting thing you’d announce in a TSOZ.
Right. Or maybe it was omitted because it is a contentious issue, and you don’t want another 1000 comments with suggestions, complaints, and opinions . . . HA!
A big thank you to the developers who were very likely struggling over this for the past several months!
I hope they give us extra rows on the left side to include (less important) metrics like average cadence or average w/kg.
I looked at the official press release and it says that the metrics advertised will be available ‘at launch’, implying that more are coming.
(I have a feeling that this focus on a training API + integration of Climb Portal tech is aligning them for a “GPX file to Custom Climb Portal” feature.)
Very glad to see them provide better real-time data and training tools.
Quick Question regarding Virtual Shifting…Is it only
available on (Wahoo) Version V5 and higher? Also
what are/might be the reasons Zwift can’t make it
work with the older Models? I have one of the first
Versions, and it works great. And I also have the new
Controllers, and I can Steer/Brake, and use the other
features. It would seem that the Virtual Shirting should
be a easy thing to install? TIA 😀
Virtual shifting is available on Zwift Hub, KICKR Core, KICKR Move, and KICKR v6. Supposed to come to v5 and v4 eventually as well.
Thanks Eric… Just wondering why Zwift can’t make it work across all Platforms… As I said everything else works with my Wahoo (V2) ?
Zwift has implemented the Zwift Protocol using the Play Controllers or Click device in such a way that trainer manufacturers need to update trainer firmware for virtual shifting to work. Zwift could have done a more “hacky” approach to virtual shifting, for sure, but they chose this route because they believed it provided a better user experience.
So it’s up to Wahoo whether v2 will support virtual shifting.
Awesome, now about adding sections of the Taiwan KOM course to the climb portal? I wouldn’t expect the entire course, it is 100k, but the most challenging section could be a nice addition to the best of zwift in my opinion.
So whoever hasn’t made it to level 100 yet by the time Côte des Forche comes around, there’s your chance.
That climb is probably going to take roughly 7 minutes at 50% and 3w/kg and maybe 4.5 minutes at 5w/kg?
These are all great updates IMO. Particularly ‘The List’ and HUD improvements. Regarding the API, would it then be possible to have 2-way integration with TrainingPeaks (TP)? Its great that TP shows Workouts on Zwift, but would be superb if TrainingPeaks would show my scheduled Zwift Plans and workouts. JOIN Cycling is doing this already under a paid subscription, (JOIN-TP-Zwift), so surprised Zwift has not enabled this so far.
Thoughts appreciated Eric and all👍🏼
You can of course sync your Zwift activities to TP (that is, your finished activity is sent over to TP).
But you’re saying you want your scheduled Zwift workouts to be sent to TP before you do them? What’s the advantage to doing that, in your mind?
Hi Eric, thanks for responding. The proposal, would allow be to see the upcoming TSS in my TrainingPeaks calender, and Annual Training Plan. I can then plan my weekly activities based on this ‘TSS Workload’ rather than using JOIN to pull in a Workout to TP, which will then automatically show on the calender, ATP and Zwift itself. The ‘My List’ function would work well with TP in this scenario, and save me subscribing JOIN, etc. it would also save me buying TP Coach Workouts (expensive), just to make them visible, with TSS included in TP.
Bottom line: I would use Zwift Workouts and Plans more, cause I already pay for it, and can then plan TSS against it, rather then buying 3rd parties (JOIN or TP coach/plans, etc) to do so.
Win/Win for TP and Zwift, as well as all there customers.
Thoughts appreciated 👍🏼
That makes sense. The problem I see, though, is that Zwift doesn’t schedule your training plan workouts for particular days – they leave it flexible. So until that changes (and I’m not convinced that change would actually be a good thing) Zwift wouldn’t be able to send scheduled workouts over to TP.
The beauty here, and apologies that I don’t mention earlier, is that when exporting TP workouts from JOIN, no matter the day, it will always ‘drop’ it into today (rather then when you wish to schedule it for), on the TP Calendar. It is then up to the user to drag/drop the workout into the specific TP date the user first planned it for. Only then will it show on the right date on Zwift.
Bottom line: Zwift wouldn’t need to schedule the activity, just the 2-way ability to drop Workouts into TP, just the same as JOIN, and many other 3rd party apps already do. The key is that Zwift would be used more to get the inbuilt workouts in the first place (thus increase it’s stock value and provide a One-Stop, solution for workouts). Thanks again for listening.
I hope these hud updates are optional. They seem to take up a lot of real estate on the screen. I would only consider using them maybe on rides with steep climbs – if at all.
I think we’ll find the HUD updates don’t take more room than the current HUD, except when the “Climb Mode” profile drops down during climbs.
The sample screenshots above seem to be taken on a smaller screen – perhaps an iPad?
“except when the “Climb Mode” profile *drops down during climbs*.”
I think you accidentally revealed that Zwift handles climbing segments like ClimbPro (on Garmin units) and Summit on (on Wahoo units)?
No accident. That’s just how it works – that’s why Zwift calls it a “dynamic” display mode. It wouldn’t make sense to show the climb profile all the time!
Any word on if they’re going to add a more extensive set of keybinds in the app? Only ask because if you’re redesigning the interface I’d imagine that topic came up.
Nothing planned that I’ve heard.
Love it!
Awesomeness ^^ Can’t wait to get back on the bike! #postfootsurgery
This all sounds and looks great! No doubt the active community of comment writers will be busily negating most of the positives to focus on ‘demands’ that no one really needs.
Those look like some great improvements. The new HUD display will help show what grates are coming for those who don’t know every inch of the routes will be helpful. and seeing what my average watts are will be helpful for me.
Also, excited about being able to queue up routes I want to ride. I have a question on this. Can I create an auto-ride list? So If I want to do 40 miles of riding will it let me do route one and on completion take me straight to route 2 and so on, or is it end ride home screen select the next one in the list. I am grateful and consider it an improvement from nothing regardless. But if I can automatically go from one chosen route to the other that would be awesome!
Came here to ask that same question. The ability to stitch routes together and have auto navigation throughout would be amazing.
I would like to see in the HUD how much XP one has accumulated at one’s current level and how much remains to the next level. I would also like to see this in the Companion app. As it stands, one has to go into the game, join a ride, hit escape to bring up the menu, then see details there. It shouldn’t have to be that hard.
Anyone else notice that the color of the gradient in the climb portal varies for the same section as you move forward? Doesn’t look so great. I hope this aspect is not repeated in the new HUD.
In the HUD, need an option to scale mini map-it would be very helpful for sweeping certain rides.
Great to see “create workout” is here! Wish this was available for running too.
Looking forward to ride the new routes and also to play with the new HUD !!
A HUD refresh is great, but it still takes up way too much space. Let us customise it, or have a minimal version.
I don’t need the list of other riders, mini-map, big power-up etc.
I’m so happy they are finally upgrading the mini map and specifically making the elevation profile easier to read. Hopefully when they say “The updated mini-map will provide greater clarity on route progression, including elevation.” it means the elevation profile will no longer change suddenly mid way through a preselected route!
From the screenshot, it looks like that might still happen. Neither elevation profile in the ‘Sugar Cookie’ screenshot match the entirety of the Sugar Cookie route’s elevation
im most excited for the HUD improvements and the grade!
Good to see Zwift working on some worthwhile additions and improvements. Especially the HUD.
https://zwiftinsider.com/sauce-for-zwift/ explains the origins of S4Z (sauces for Zwift) software app was created outside of Zwift. So to be fair to Justin Mayfield for his work, Zwift might have to be careful about infringing. Just a thought.
What’s coming on Zwift?
A 38.5% price increase in the UK.
Subscription Price Increase FAQ (zwift.com)
I guess that they forgot about rising the prices on Zwift this season in this announcement. I’ve just got the email telling me that my annual subscription will be up from 149.99 to 199.99 €. Monthly now at 19.99 €
I would like to see more Scottish routes regularly available. In particular a route from the bottom of the outer Hebrides right to the top would be most welcome. Scotland has magnificent islands which attract many tourist and cyclists every year – Skye, for example. Some promotion of other Scottish Cities as well as Glasgow would be nice too – this would be much appreciated – with the saltires ubiquitously visible as are the Union Jacks in the London set – up!
A bit disappointed in sea breeze as we require a power meter to participate, I am a Hand cycle rider and a power meter for me starts around $2000.00 AU so I am not happy with this rule
This is great. Thanks for the info. I would also love to see an update to the Companion App’s dashboard to allow customization of the fields to include many of the Average varieties (Avg W/K, Avg Cadence, Avg Speed…). Maybe just a quick toggle button to switch between current view and averages of all those views? Thoughts??
That’s coming, at least in its initial form, this summer: https://zwiftinsider.com/hud-refresh-closer-look/