The latest Zwift update has been announced and will be released in phases over the next few days. It includes the much-anticipated Climb Portal feature, new stuff for Apple TV and Play Controller users, and a pile of bug fixes!
Let’s dig into the details…
Climb Portal
The Climb Portal was announced as an upcoming feature back in April, and today it arrives in game – although most Zwifters won’t be able to use it until noon PST this Friday, June 30. (A limited number of Zwift testers, including myself, have had access to it for several days.)
There are actually two Climb Portals – one in Watopia (near the Volcano), the other in France (near the Castle). These portals can be accessed via the home screen, route menu, or when free-riding in either world.
The Climb Portals give us access to a curated list of iconic climbs with a “gamified” look unlike anything we’ve seen before in Zwift:
As you climb, the road changes color based on the gradient. There is no surrounding “natural” environment – just sky and floating shapes.
Why the “gamified” look? Because it makes it easy for Zwift to release new climbs! With no need for custom artwork, Zwift can simply feed a famous climb’s GPS data into the game, break that climb into defined segments, and add it to the library of Climb Portal climbs.
Once you reach the top there’s a turnaround loop, then you can enjoy the descent you earned:
The HUD has been customized for these climbs, with each iconic climb is broken up into sections that begin with an arch and are individually tracked via a dashboard on the left. The HUD also shows your estimated finishing time, an overall progress bar which includes distance, climb, and percentage progress, and a profile minimap and overhead map view:
Eight climbs are included in this initial launch. Why did Zwift choose these climbs? Because each of them features in the 2023 Tour de France and/or Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift!
- Cote de Trébiac: 3.4 km at 5.8%
- Col des Aravis: 4.4 km at 6%
- Col d’Aspin: 12 km at 6.5%
- Puy de Dome: 10.5 km at 8%
- Cote de Domancy: 2.6km at 8.6%
- Cote de Pike: 2 km at 10%
- Col du Platzerwasel: 7.1km at 8.4%
- Col du Tourmalet: 16.9 km at 7.4%
These climbs will be part of the “Climb Portal First Ascent Challenge” which begins Friday (watch for a post all about this challenge, coming soon). You’ll be able to ride any of the eight climbs you’d like, or choose from one of the two climbs featured each day which will rotate during the month of July.
Zwift says, “Following the Climb Portal First Ascent Challenge the portals will feature a selection of the world’s best-known climbs, with new ascents available each month.”
Got questions? See Zwift’s Climb Portal FAQ.
Video Screenshots for Apple TV
Video Screenshots let you easily save 15-second video snippets of your Zwift gameplay. “Notable moments” are automatically recorded (think: race finishes or segment PRs) but you can also tap the screenshot icon in Companion or on the Action Bar to save a recording of the last 15 seconds. Here’s one notable moment Zwift recently auto-recorded:
Did you see that? I topped the leaderboard for a solid tenth of a second!
Video Screenshots were released for iOS and MacOS back in February, and according to Zwift the capability has been rolled out to “most” iOS and MacOS users. Today, Zwift begins rolling out Video Screenshot capability to Apple TV users.
PC and Android users: your time will come. Zwift says they’re working on it, with PC coming very soon.
Haptics for Play Controllers
“Haptics” are vibrational feedback, and the Zwift Play controllers now use haptics in certain situations. The release notes say, “Zwift Play controllers now have haptic feedback on Mac, PC, iOS, and Apple TV, with Android coming soon.”
Here’s the full list of Play haptics:
- Controllers Paired
- Use Powerup
- Return a Ride On
- Give a Ride On Bomb
- Braking
- Repack Rush: Boost
- Repack Rush: Hazard
- Repack Rush: Bonus Time Pickup
Play haptics are rolling out in phases, so if you don’t have it yet, you should soon. Zwift says ~25% of Play Controllers will have haptics starting today.
Got feedback on Zwift’s new Play Controller haptics? Share it on this forum thread.
More Fixes and Tweaks
Additional tweaks and bug fixes Zwift listed for this update:
- Fixed an issue with Coffee Stop that would cause the first use of Coffee Stop after 30 minutes to be 30 seconds instead of the expected 3 minutes. This was most prevalent in events.
- Fixed an issue with Coffee Stop that would result in the timer getting stuck, preventing Zwifters being able to use Coffee Stop.
- Water textures are back and less gray.
- Fixed an issue which occasionally caused cyclists to not appear to be pedaling despite having cadence connected.
- Zwift theme music returns 11!
- Action Bar pops up more easily on touch screens.
- Black squares that appear in dusty conditions have been banished.
- Fixed an issue that caused road edges and avatars to turn white in the underwater tunnels of Watopia.
- Improved the appearance of the roadway near the village on the Epic KOM route.
- Fixed an issue where HoloReplay privacy settings were reset after exiting Zwift.
- Fixed an issue that could potentially cause Workout category card titles to be blank.
- Fixed a crash that could occur when saving a custom workout.
- Fixed an issue where the Save Activity screen could get stuck with a “spinning” indicator.
- Fixed an issue where some segments in Makuri Islands and Scotland only displayed results in total seconds.
- Fixed an issue in the Ride Report where the power output line did not match up with the corresponding zone blocks.
- (PC): AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX GPUs now have the Ultra graphics profile enabled.
- (Mac and PC): Fixed an issue where button hover effects in the Pause menu flashed while moving the mouse.
- (Android and iOS): Fixed an issue where scrolling in the Zwifters Nearby list could open the Action Bar.
- (Android and iOS): Fixed an issue where the Leaderboard and Zwifters Nearby lists could not be hidden by swiping to the side.
- (Android): Fixed a crash that could occur when using Zwift Play controllers.
- Fixed an issue so Zwift Play controllers can better navigate the Pause screen on some mobile devices.
- Various improvements to in-game menu navigation using Zwift Play controllers.
- Fixed an issue that could potentially prevent using Zwift Play controllers from adjusting workout intensity.
See Zwift’s release notes in the forum >
Questions or Comments?
If you spotted any other changes or bugs in the update, please comment below!
Will there be route badges for the climb portal climbs? Looks cool!
Not initially, but I think Zwift really needs to figure out a cool way to turn portal climbs into achievements.
Garage unlocks like the wheels please!
Any XP point bonuses for route completion on these?
Not that I know of.
Any idea when Android users get the video screenshot capability?
Nope. They’ll be the last to get it, though, I’m pretty sure of that. Because Android encompasses so many different types of hardware…
Too bad, but yes, I had the same sense that would be a barrier to deployment. Thanks for the reply!
What about PC, Eric
Coming VERY soon, Jim.
A cool new set of climbs, or a lazy way to introduce roads without much effort or somewhere in-between?
Zwifts appeal over other indoor training includes the visuals of riding in the game environment. The childish star backgrounds etc look they’ll get boring quickly. I’d prefer more actual roads as the same old maps are getting a bit tedious to long term users. At least it’s something a bit different though I guess.
I’d encourage us to give them a shot first and see how they feel. Zwift has been innovating a lot lately. It’s in all of our best interests to encourage this new mindset. Some things will be great…others won’t. But if we go after them every time they try something new, they may be less likely to try new things. I know I would! And we don’t know what the end game is for these climbs. It’s possible some/all of them become permanent and finished rides if they are popular enough. Apologies for the diatribe, but Zwift has brought a… Read more »
can we use these iconic climbs also for custom (ERG) Workouts?
Yes. You could start the climb then pull up the workout library and select your workout… that seems like maybe the easiest way.
I don’t want to sound dismissive, but what’s the point of the climb portal? Without environmental graphics, how is it different than just looking at your power on a Garmin and adjusting the power every so often? Maybe you could use it to train for those specific climbs but… I’m guessing 99.99% of subscribers don’t have a trip to France booked any time soon?
I do!
I guess the major difference is what zwift the platform offers. Group rides and races.
To me, I think if a course rides well in races or group ride, it’s far more important than scenery. Even at its best zwift is not good because of graphics.
I’m not sure I love the climb portal graphics but it won’t matter when I’m suffering up tourmalet.
I do Too
Well I sure didn’t expect the climb portal to look so gamey, but so be it. Hope one day we see Angliru on the list (but can a smart-trainer simulate those 23% ramps?). 🙂
I was thinking of that same climb 😬
the top trainers go to 25%. The real question is…do I have the legs and gearing to 23%. Probably not for anything over 25 yards or so…for me.
I think Richmond hits 23% but these gradients can max out trainers for riders who are average mass or more. So it wouldn’t make sense to do a climb with extreme sustained gradients. There is an Angliru Magic Road on RGT, but it’s from a user, and I’ve not ridden it. This feature is a lot like version 1 of the RGT Magic Roads. The present version generates terrain from the climb profile.
do we stop at the portal and then select a climb? is it just you on the climb or do others join?
The climb in the portal is just a rotating list. What is there is what is there (i.e. no selection).
Eric writes; You’ll be able to ride any of the eight climbs you’d like, or choose from one of the two climbs featured each day which will rotate during the month of July….
You’ll see others on the climb. I think the overall idea is for there to be a “featured climb” for each portal for a certain time period, then it changes.
But I think in July you’ll be able to select from the 8 climbs and do whichever one you want.
This is the part I’m still unclear on. So, I take that right turn onto the portal road off the Volcano . . . and then what? I’m presented with a list of climbs and I choose whether I want the Tourmalet or the Puy du Dome? Or I can only ride the climb that is featured that day in that portal? If it’s the latter, is there a calendar?
It is a shame that Zwift did not use some procedural world creation for that climbs from already existing assets, probably none will notice and it will be already much more interesting for riding. This new experience for climbs is kind of disappointing, but let’s see how it works
They’ve done that before, with other maps/routes… maybe this time they wanted to try something wholly different to see how it’s received?
Zwift used procedural world creation to create some of the existing maps/routes? I hadn’t heard about that before. Do you have more details on this? Which worlds/routes?
Not that the whole world was created procedurally… more like portions of the map. Based on what I’ve seen and heard internally, Zwift has the ability to “automate” landscaping to some extent, as opposed to individually placing each tree, house, rock, etc. So they can drop a road, tweak elevations, then let the environment be filled in. A pretty quick process for creating a basic map.
I’m not opposed to the climb portal but I do think that the “gaming look” will likely get pretty old very quick for me. I do hope Zwift does keep doing actual map expansions, including at least the addition of a decent climb to the Makuri map…
I think you’re 100% correct.
I will obviously try it but it does look boring.
if there aren’t achievement badges then there isn’t much point trying to complete all the climbs.
i will ride them in erg mode and then I don’t have to concentrate on the horrible graphics and can instead watch something on the TV whilst banging out the watts.
The Climb Portal aesthetics give me Audiosurf vibes.
Do you make real graphics, or did your designers go to the competition? listen to what people want, it’s about simulating reality, not training between geometric figures
Who’s “you” here? Do you mean Zwift?
at the end of the day. the Alpe, and Ventoux look absolute nothing like they are supposed to IRL
The reward of subit el tourmalet is to take a picture in the monument “el gigante” not in a geometric figure
I like that Zwift are trying new things and I get that the basic look makes it easier to add more climbs…but gee it looks boring and if there are no route badges/xp I don’t personally see any incentive to climb them, I’d rather stick to the Alp which looks interesting, has a yeti sometimes and you get the spinny wheel at the top.
Agreed they need to add some incentives!
I cannot use the controllers through Apple TV due to only 2 channels? Will they fix this? So no everything goes through companion app
Doubt this will be “fixed” as it’s a limitation with Apple TV, not with Zwift. You can’t use Play on Apple TV unless you pair everything through the Companion app.
Any word on optimisation of Zwift for the more recent Apple TV devices?
What I’m wondering is: “but, do you get to ride the descent???”
NVM. You answered that (TL/DR). Thanks!
Very tempted to get the new Play controllers, but I’m concerned about having to run them through the Companion app as I’m an ATV user. Do you know the data path when connecting through the Companion App? Play , Kickr, Climb and HR go to Companion App via BlueTooth, but does the CA then send the data to ATV via BlueTooth or does it send it through the Internet connection? Reason I’m asking is my WIFI can be a little temperamental sometimes and if all data goes through my WIFI there maybe times where it’s unusable for me due to… Read more »
It’s all sent via your network, not via your phone’s Bluetooth to Apple TV.
Do the climbs in the portal have Strava segments?
Not yet, since I haven’t had access to ride them all. But they will!
I am wondering where on the earth they will represent the gps coords for these portal climbs.
They all start at the same place (in Watopia/France) so in Strava the climbs will overlap each other. They’re all attached to their home maps, we don’t teleport anywhere new.
So would there be different segments depending if we enter the Tourmalet climb through France or through Watopia? I am assuming the segment would then be tied to the location on the real world map.
So if I do say Tourmalet by entering from the France map I’d be in France and if I did Tourmalet by entering from the Watopia map I’d be in the usual place in the pacific? That kind of makes segments useless. 🙁
Ok this may sound funny but I LONG have thought ‘climb portal’ BUT always thought that would mean at the summit there’s a portal that teleports you to the START so you could climb continuously infinitely?. I didn’t realize my idea of what this is / would be was unlike anyone else’s! And I’m not a ‘climbing is my thing’ rider am mid weight (70kg or so) mid B power (lifetime PB <4w/kg 20 min) alpe PB like 56 min? I’m ‘fine’ but no mountain goat…it wasn’t that. I think I got the idea from 1) once saw this rock… Read more »
Looking forward to giving it a go. Expansion idea. Enter one portal, do the climb, zip back down but then you exit into the other portal. 😶🌫️
Needs a ghost rider option to ride up the climbs whilst seeing and competing against your previous best
It has it! HoloReplay works on these portal climbs.
Anyone remember the Stunt Car Racer game from 1989? I think the people at Zwift do. Like the idea, but it’s a shame the portal couldn’t have looked a bit better than it does.
I remember, loved that game
Anybody know if they fixed the free camera movement with the arrow keys? Not activating u-turn and the menu?
I don’t think it’s fixed.
Ties in perfectly with the new climb challenge … noiiiiice 👍👍👍👍
I have Zwift play I use ATV and updated today, I don’t see any updates to Zwift play or anything else is there a second update to come , the one thing that happened after this update is Zwift play kept disconnected or pushing the avatar way out to the right ,
Hi
what do you think of a robo keeping slow riders with them to stay together as in workout groups?
I find the scenery on Ven-Top too dull to keep up the interest to the top. I can imagine staring at floating geometric shapes for 2 hours.
Just did a first ride after the update. No sign of the climbers portal. I expected it be there by now. But what I did get was a big crash after 45 minutes. So hard the fit file did not load in Strava. So I have to rectify my first sentence. Because what is not in Strava did not happen.
Likewise! The portal didn’t show during my ride or on the home screen.
I concur with many of the other commenters about the low end visuals. I can barely stand the future part of New York because of the way the roads look but at least it’s fleshed out. The portal just looks, grim. Interesting graphics is Zwift’s strength compared with other platforms. I guess it’s good to try new things and I’m sure this will have its fans.Just hope there are some new worlds and world expansions coming as well.
After the latest update I can no longer give multiple ride ons or read the riders names above there avatars. Is anyone else experiencing the same issues?
Just completed the puy de dome climb.
very different. But good to have more of the iconic climbs to ride.
I took a first ride with the latest update. I am using Apple TV 4K and noted a black box with only the metres showing. The box is not showing the rider or the country. Everything else appears to be fine. Is anyone else having this issue?
yes! i can feel another update to fix glitches 😉
major glitch with names showing during ride with my French robopacer. Anybody else?
I had the same, but also lost chat and multiple ride on functions as well. Names came back today for me.
Hi Eric, as of today I don’t see the ‘video screenshot’ on Apple TV (UK based) hopefully just a rollout thing, cheers John