The latest Zwift update is now available on all platforms. It’s a solid update, including some major new features! Here are the details…
Not sure if your Zwift install is up-to-date? Here’s how to check >
FutureWorks Steering Expanded to All Roads
Zwift launched steering on Repack Ridge powered by our phones and the Companion app back in October 2019. Today they’ve taken steering to all Zwift roads, which is huge news! This means we can select our own line in corners, and maneuver our way through the pack to choose which wheel we want to sit on. Check out this short sample from Zwift:
Here’s the unexpected thing: the new version of steering doesn’t use the Companion app. Instead, you will need to purchase the Elite Sterzo Smart steering block, available now from Zwift.
Why not Companion? Because the feedback from the community after the offroad steering test was that steering would “drift”, making the experience less than ideal for many users. The Sterzo doesn’t drift, since it’s not accelerometer-based. It also solves the tricky problem of setting up a front wheel turntable.
We’ll do some follow-up posts on FutureWorks Steering for sure, since it’s literally a game-changer! But here are the highlights:
- Sterzo Smart pricing: $109.99 USD (US), $129.99 CAD (Canada), €84.99 EUR (EU), £69.99 GBP (UK). Buy it at Zwift.com >
- “Lateral collisions” are disabled if you’re in steering mode. This means you can’t just ride through riders side-to-side… you have to go around them. We’re looking forward to testing this!
- The Sterzo is paired through a new “Accessories” widget on the pairing screen. It only works with Zwit via Bluetooth at this time, although the Sterzo includes ANT+. If you’ve got it paired, then steering is enabled. Easy peasy.
- Steering will be disabled for all events by default, since it gives racers an unfair advantage. But event organizers will be able to choose to enable steering.
- Steering will be enabled on additional hardware (read: smartbikes) in the coming months, but there’s no strict timetable. Zwift says “Many smart bikes include steering buttons. For those of you with Smart Bikes, those capabilities are planned for support at a later date.”
Read more about FutureWorks Steering on Zwift’s blog post >
Meetup Enhancements (Almost Here)
Zwift’s press release includes this tantalizing line:
Additionally, the latest update also brings improvements to Meetups, including late join and race results.
Hurray! Late join and race results are two of the most-requested Meetup improvements from the community, so it’s great to see these being rolled out.
Important timing note: these new features won’t be available until the Companion app is updated, which we’re hearing should be early next week. France and Paris will also be available for Meetups once the update is rolled out.
New Bike Day: Specialized Tarmac SL7
We knew this bike was arriving soon, after reporting on the upcoming 7 Days of Tarmac SL7. Specialized says of the IRL bike that it’s the “one bike to rule them all” – both lightweight and super aero. So aero, in fact, that they’re discontinuing the Venge line.
How will it perform in game? We’re testing it right now to find out… stay tuned!
(There are also some new wheels available in the Drop Shop: DT Swiss ARC 62’s. We’re testing these as well!)
Ride Leader Fence Update
The fence has returned! It was removed back in March due to bugs, and has now returned with one key difference: it no longer boots flyers from the ride.
Instead, if you go past the fence you get a really annoying notification on screen that should encourage you to slow down and return to the ride.
From what we hear, the fence should soon be enabled on group rides that used the fence in the past. It may take Zwift a few days to get the fence re-enabled on all rides, but that’s the plan.
FutureWorks Pace Partners
“Pace Partners” are pacer bots which Zwifters can join from the drop-in screen. When you click to join a bot it will be just like joining a friend who is already riding – you will be taken to where that bot is on-course, and you can ride with them as long as you’d like. Our guess is each bot will always have a group of riders around it in a sort of ongoing group ride.
There are four bots who will be available 20 hours per day (they will be turned off for maintenance from 8:30-10:30 and 20:30-22:30 Pacific time each day). Each bot rides at a set wattage on a particular Watopia route:
- “D. Diesel” (1-2.4 w/kg)”: Casual-paced group ride with a few gentle hills
- “C. Cadence” (2.5-3.1 w/kg): Moderately-paced group ride with occasional hills
- “B. Brevet” (3.2-3.9 w/kg): Expert-paced group ride with frequent climbs.
- “A. Anquetil” (4+ w/kg): Elite-paced ride on a challenging route. Many tough climbs!
This is just the “minimum viable product” (MVP) version of Pace Partners. There are lots of possibilities for this feature to expand in the future, including having bots modulate their power in smart ways (increasing on climbs, decreasing on descents), giving riders rewards for staying near the bot, running pacers, etc. But Zwift wants to test out the feature first to see if people find it useful.
As with all FutureWorks features, Zwift releases them so the community can test and provide feedback via in-game surveys and the FutureWorks forum.
PowerUp Changes
Zwift has added a new powerup and changed the behavior of two existing powerups:
- Anvil (New): an event-only powerup which adds a % to your weight. Your avatar will visually “hulk up” while it’s in use, and it lasts for 30 seconds. Good for descents, as we know heavier riders descend faster.
- Feather: this has been changed to lighten your weight by a %, instead of a set weight (formerly 9.5 kg). This makes it more useful and fair for heavier riders.
- Burrito: now disables the draft for all riders within a 2.5-meter radius, making it a much more powerful tool for racers. The old burrito wasn’t useful when riding in the pack, since removing just your draft effect didn’t affect riders around you at all. The new burrito will make everyone work harder… at least for 10 seconds!
Other Updates
Update notes included these additional changes as well:
- Time gaps between riders in the riders nearby list has been improved and should now be significantly more accurate across different terrain types. This is a good change – we’ll have to test it further! Read our post on how Zwift calculated time gaps previously >
- New riders will default to long white socks and a helmet.
- All Zwifters (adults and children) now share the same height and weight restrictions in-game and in ZC. (Users attempting to change these values on the web via my.zwift.com will still encounter restrictions and this will be addressed in a future release.)
- Numerous fixes for overgrown trees and boulders which have made their way onto the roadways as well as floating objects.
- Localization fixes where some translations would not properly fit within the boundaries of the UI.
- Fixed an issue with some Japanese characters not appearing correctly in chat messages.
- Fixed the issue with the Hide Chat setting not being applied while in an event.
- Fixed a bug where users in a No HUD event would not receive a powerup.
- Added 4K UHD support for those using an AMD Radeon Pro 5500M video card.
See/discuss release notes on Zwift’s forum >
Questions or Comments?
Share your thoughts below!
Hi Eric, Video Unavailable. This video is private.
Unable to watch the video. Guessing a setting needs to be changed.
Fixed!
Please unsubscribe me. I am 80 and don’t know how to do it. Thank you
We can’t unsubscribe you. But you can do it if you follow these instructions: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/3220216?co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid&hl=en
Lots of great changes (fence, gaps, etc)…
The end of Kick’r Climb???
Yes, was thinking that as well. I love my Climb, but if steering is actually useful in Zwift races…..
Mandatory updates always are a day of no riding. Thank you Zwift, awesome job.
Where is my 5.5w/kg Zpower Joker pace partner? Oh nevermind he’s in B cat.
Lol!!! Or chasing the break in A cat, or just spoiling the race for everyone else….
Curious about the tease comment on smart bikes. I’d have bought a Kickr Bike already but the likelihood of platforms adding steering put me off.
This post https://zwift.com/news/22747-zwift-how-to-using-futureworks-steering says “Many smart bikes include steering buttons. For those of you with Smart Bikes, those capabilities are planned for support at a later date.” That’s all I’ve got!
As the steering buttons on smartbikes are just digital buttons, it should be really easy to produce an add-on for all trainers that replicates this, that you just attach to your bars. Should be cheap too.
I wonder if this is potentially a use for the “hidden” di2 buttons on regular bikes should wireless di2 ever be able to talk to zwift. Although I’ve usually thought of that in the context of things like powerups/boost mode
Would be awesome if they somehow design a steering stem or “steerer” tube for KICKR Bike. I’m also wondering how this will translate other than the inner hood buttons…
Where is the Apple TV new interface??
Awaiting apples approval lol
New UI??? They said that was ready months ago.
Do not see the point
Of what? Zwift updating its game? 😂
Of putting stupid stuff as an update and raising prices. No one needs to steer on a stationary bike, esp for $129. Or boring races for cartoon teams.
Did you buy the steerzo yet Eric? I’m super tempted
Elite actually shipped me one last week that is supposed to arrive today!
Lucky you! Already out of stock.
Buy more like sent him one for free.
They REALLY need to add W/KG on the big blue square on the top left, I mean how is this not a thing? w/kg is basically what Zwift is built on, yet to see it during a race you have to squint to some tiny numbers mixed in among 100 other names etc…
W/KG don’t matter if you’re getting dropped! No offense, but in a race isn’t all that matters staying with the group, no matter what the power output?
This is why I keep my weight at or around 100kg just imagine a decimal point in the Watts display and I am sorted
Just need a bigger TV
What level do you need to be to get the SPECIALIZED TARMAC SL7?
Level 5. See our frames list at https://zwiftinsider.com/frames
Hey Eric, I don’t see the sl7 in the list (last updated may 2029).
Oops, may 2019.
SL7 is Level 5, price 674,500 (missing in the Frames list)
I see general use of steering as a backward step for Zwift (“it gives racers an unfair advantage”). I believe Zwift has been successful as at enabled integration of a wide variety of hardware, and this update will now give in-game performance preference to users with a specific hardware setup.
Disappointing for those of us with a setup that doesn’t include a smart trainer with steering buttons or possibility of adding a steering block.
Bring on enhancements to the game but not at the expense of user performance parity!
For steering to be viable they will want to make it accessible to everyone. I think this will come with simple after-market buttons that you can attach to your bike.
Classic paywall strategy to keep increasing profits. Guarantee Zwift is taking a percentage of Elites revenue.
So look for events where steering is disabled. There will be plenty of people who don’t want to steer, they’ll gravitate away from events where steering is in play, it’ll work itself out.
Crazy thought – for those really into steering maybe ride a bike outside. I’d like to see Zwift address some of the long standing issues with the primary experience. Most of these features seem nonsensical to me and evidence of a lack of development focus. Zwift doesn’t seem to have a clear sense of what the experience is and is instead investing development resources on random features.
I’ve been highly critical of the pace of non-updates over the past 6 months. I’m super excited about this one! Kudos Zwift! Sterzo, bought.
Good to give kudos when kudos are due.
I zwift on rollers (with a powertap wheel), so that steering is a big no to me.
I’m sure it’ll be a big no for lots of folks! And that’s ok. It can work both ways.
Interesting that the Sterzo won’t work on Repack Ridge. Also interested to see how it integrates with Apple TV, since it will likely put people over the direct BT connection limit, forcing the use of pairing through the Companion app, which has been roundly panned since it was changed with the last update.
Excellent point, Nigel! That limitation has bitten me more than once.
This update will be exciting. You have added some great features to Meet Up Rides.
how does one follow one of these bots? Is it just like following your buddy, you search for them and choose to meet up?
Your have to pass backwards for 6 seconds with both brakes on to enable the bot menu 🤣
From what I have read they will appear at the top “Join another Zwifter?” list on the world selection screen. There are only in Watopia at the moment so select that as the world. Then just click on the rider and when you start your ride you will join with them and anyone else who is riding with them. They aren’t live yet though. They are supposed to be starting 10:30am 7 Aug California Time (17:30 UTC).
Booo no steering for Australia
Geoff, if you mean they don’t ship to Oz, try a re-shipper. I use MyUS often for work stuff, I’ve just ordered one using that address. It takes a while longer to deliver – especially ATM!
You can contact Elite and ask where to get it… it’s not just available through Zwift.
So the original Stereo is now a paperweight. Lovely work Zwift, start us in one direction then change.
Agreed. Why not allow both? Those riders who can’t afford the new block (or just don’t want it) can use the ‘inferior’ companion app steering.
The original steering using the companion app is still available. It’s not being replaced, you can use either.
Companion app steering doesn’t work on all roads, though. Just on Repack Ridge.
Any word on when we can ride Repack Ridge without the gimmicky steering? If I want to practice my steering I’ll go ride outside. Steering in Zwift is nonsensical to me.
I’ve had the original sterzo for 2 months and there must a a ferrous ball bearing in it that rusts. I always wipe it down after each ride because it collects sweat. There is however constantly a trail of rust on the plastic base, it also get stiff at times. I tried Teflon, lube etc but it seems a very inferior product and not fit for purpose. The design and testing process cannot be up to much given the fact it will collect huge amounts of sweat. I wouldn’t pay £75 for a smart version hopefully a different manufacturer will… Read more »
A great update and report: added bonus, the Sterzo is only £69:99 in the UK – so cheaper then you’ve listed Eric 👍🏻
Interesting! I’ll update the price. That’s the one Zwift gave me…
I don’t like that is only one Elite that are allowed to get the steering software. That is bad for the customers. Is feels like than Zwift need too milk the subscripers for much more money also with the new subcritions types that are in pipeline? 😢
It’ll expand to other providers in the future, I’ll bet. But Elite was the first provider to create a smart steerer and bring it to Zwift, as I understand. So I don’t feel too bad about Zwift giving them some exclusivity for the initial launch.
We have literally no idea whether “only Elite are allowed to get the steering software”. It connects to Zwift using standard ANT+ and BLE connections, so there is no reason why other manufacturers cannot make devices that do the job. When Zwift was introduced, smart trainers were already a thing so no need for Zwift to offer something specific. Here is a new functionality for which devices don’t really exist (because there hasn’t really been anything to use them on). It makes perfect sense for Zwift to partner with a hardware company to make sure that when the new update… Read more »
Good updates but not allowing the Companion App steering outside Repack is disappointing – I never noticed any drift.
Anyone have a hack to allow this?
Nope I didnt notice it either and whilst a new additional feature is great if its better really dont see why they had to completely ditch this support for those who thought it was more than adaquate.
Wayne, I agree that the Companion steering worked great for me. I’m sure it depended on which phone people used.
Great, thanks. Just ordered the Sterzo – looking forward to test it 🙂
where did you find it ? looks to be outsold everywhere
It’s on Zwift.com: https://zwift.com/shop/product/elite-sterzo-smart-steering-block
Like the idea of bots, but unfortunately for my power, diesel dan has way to big window at 1 to 2.4wkg, thats double all other cats, and make it pretty unusable.
For me bots take away from what I felt was the main design principle of Zwift – always riding with real people. I feel rather than investing development bandwidth in bots and steering the company should invest in better tools for group rides and meetups. I really don’t understand this lack of focus on the primary experience.
I just started riding with a Kickr Climb a month ago – would love steering but if the only way is to use a steerzo, then there’s a lot of users excluded from this feature.
It won’t be. It is a futureworks feature, so only the Steerzo for now…
I have a Tacx Neo Track, which also does steering, but additionally provides extra stability when fixed to my Neo 2. Support for this, and all steering capable blocks should be provided, not just a single manufacturer. Odd decision by Zwift.
Hmmm, seems the prices are waaaaay higher than the were originally on the Elite website. That’s got to be about double?
Supply and demand . I am sure a nice exclusive contract has been agreed to share in the spoils.
I suspect you’re mixing up the Sterzo with the Sterzo Smart. The original Sterzo has no electronics in it, so it’s mostly just a front wheel turntable (which, many people like from a feel standpoint). Elite has been upfront about this since the very beginning (even last year at Eurobike). And again at launch of the regular Sterzo in February.
Am I the only one that has found this to be sold out? Both on Zwift and Clevertraining. Any word on when this will be replenished? I sold out quick!
I (Like others) have tested and used the repack ridge steering and didn’t find any issues of drift with it . Not saying it was perfect but certainly not unusable . I am also finding it rather difficult to understand why after all that testing and feedback they just ditched it for a completely different solution which has had zero testing and feedback. Like others who did get involved in testing and feedback we now find ourselves with a bricked riser block (Sterzio Elite original) for our efforts. You just trash our purchases we made to help test your roll… Read more »
Well, to be fair, this new “all-road” steering is ALSO FutureWorks. So we’re still in beta!
Just bought a Kickr climb 😀
Do you think will be available with updates use of climb as steer? Or maybe Kickr will release new climb hardware?
Anyway is a shame that from companion app you cannot manage it.
From app you can apply smartphone in Kickr climb for example and manage it 😀
Time gaps – a fix of one of the most annoying bugs . Looking forward to testing this as it was truly poor til now , unless you used zwiftpower. I wonder if they have implemented the ZP method or just added speed to the parameter ?.
Really was not a bug. It worked as intended, just needed improvement. Word is that it uses precise locations on a course to determine gaps (the difference between when you pass a point and another rider passes the same point). You could see they improved it while watching the Virtual Tour de France.
got excited when I saw pacer bots announced, have now realised these are NOT ‘PR bots’ for real time comparison climbs, routes, etc. so disappointed !!
So now I’m required to buy additional hardware? Fine, but the product does not ship to my country. It also couldn’t find it in any online shops that do ship it.
Of course you don’t need to use steering, but it means you will defnitely be at a disadvantage when racing. Now that Zwift is also testing the acceptance of different new packages up to 45$ (why didn’t you report on that, Zwiftinsinder?), I might as well quit Zwift for the other alternatives.
When do you think you will have speed tested the Tarmac?
Already did. Just gotta put together the post.
It’s not the fastest aero or climber, FYI. So no major news. But a good performer nonetheless.
Still remains too gamey for me and far too pricey, can’t see what all the fuss is about and I much prefer the video ride app alternatives
I hope they don’t lock this to the Elite device. Let us at least try this with something cheap, even if it’s inferior. It’s too expensive to just see if it’s any good. That SL7 looks fast and light. Look forward to the tests but I think it’s going to be popular.
BUT HOW HEAVY ARE THE PACE BOTS?
With a Kikr Climb, I’m not sure I’m gonna have steering anytime soon !
I didn’t see the update yet for Apple TV
They are saving that for when the prices increase!
Excellent new features in Meetup. Now we just need to allow the selected Workout to work for all of the Meetup guests
I am glad to see steering is now on all roads, but I am not at all thrilled that they could not make this work on the companion APP,
I’d love to steer, but I am not sure if I want to spend $100+ for that ability, when something like the Kickr Climb may provide better immersion.
Uhm… I love my Kickr Climb and probably won’t change for the Sterzo. Hoping they will add other solutions.
I think there are some bugs in that update. My avatar rode parallel to a big group in the start of group ride and didn’t change it’s line. Eventually I got dropped despite putting out big watts.
Was really hoping for rowing. Hopefully soon.
All well and good, but ATV does not allow any more BLE connections!
Time gaps completely broken in crit city for me today. All +o.oo time gaps!
“Bots down for maintenance”? I should say so after 20 hours of pacing… they’re probably getting massages, sleep and food.
The Elite Sterzo Smart steering block is already out of stock…
Zwift is still pushing steering huh? I’m thinking this will not be something that will stick. What is more concerning to me as a Zwift racer is that they have yet to fix the sandbagging and category issues. Please, less gamification and more parameters on racing!
Given I’m not steering any time soon, I am most excited for time gaps I can (hopefully) fully trust! 🙂
The time gaps didn’t seem quite right in the race I just did – a couple of people were 50-100m up the road and still showing as 0 seconds ahead… This was on Apple TV that was updated tonight to the latest version.
Same here. All the time gaps in the race were 0:00. This was on a Mac with Zwift updated this morning.
I had the same issue with time gaps in a Crit City race today on the Bell Lap course. All the time gaps were 0:00 the whole race.
The time gaps worked perfectly fine for the group ride I did afterward in France. I am not sure if they were done with the new method though.
Most of the update is pretty good except for the time gap functionality. During this morning’s ZHR age group race over the Road to Ruins course it got all confused when the route was switchbacks. Riders ahead would suddenly be behind and vice-versa. Do they even test this shit before releasing it? Seems like it would be pretty easy to find this bug.