The latest Zwift update has been announced and will be released in phases over the next few days.
This release doesn’t have flashy new features like fresh roads or bikes, but it does include some notable updates, including long-awaited native Apple silicon support. Let’s dive in!
Climb Portal Powerup Changes
We wrote a post about XP Farming with Zwift’s Climb Portal over a month ago, but today’s update reduces the frequency of the Large XP bonus powerup to ~10%, making XP farming much less effective.
Based on our tests, we believe Zwift originally assigned the following probabilities to Climb Portal powerups:
- Feather: 20%
- Small Bonus: 60%
- Large Bonus: 20%
Now those probabilities appear to be:
- Feather: 25%
- Small Bonus: 65%
- Large Bonus: 10%
Based on our calculations, this change results in a 38% reduction of the total hourly XP you could earn on a short climb like Cote de Pike. (The old powerup frequencies delivered an estimated 2587XP, while the new frequencies deliver 1607XP.) It was fun while it lasted!
Deferred Updates
We already talked about this in a recent post, but Zwift is officially releasing the “Deferred Update” feature for PC/Mac in today’s update. This feature lets you choose to delay downloading/installing a Zwift update until after your Zwift session, so if you’re running late for an event you don’t have to be delayed by an update.
To get deferred updates on your Zwift setup, you’ll need two things:
- A PC or Mac running the Zwift game app
- Launcher app v 1.1.10 (download here). If you’re on a version older than v1.1.9 (here’s how to check) – download and manually install the latest version.
Apple Silicon Support
Apple devices using native Apple silicon have always run the legacy x86 code (for Intel chipset architecture) version of Zwift using an emulator, which any nerd will tell you is a less-than-efficient way to run software because the device has to do the extra work of “translating” x86 code into its native language (ARM64, in the case of machines using Apple processors).
Starting with update version 1.46, Zwift shipped a version of the app written in ARM64 code which runs natively on Apple silicon, which should result in:
- Faster framerates
- Improved graphic performance
- Less overheating
- Potentially longer battery life when not plugged into power
As Shane Miller says in his update video below, the most noticeable difference may be rider shadows in game. See his full analysis/comparison below:
Zwift is doing a phased release of native Apple silicon support, with all Mac computers with Apple silicon (that is, M1/M2) processors getting support by September 12/13 depending on your local time zone.
FYI: the Zwift app written for iPhone/iPad already runs natively, and always has. This update only applies to Mac computers.
Later Zwift Academy Start Date Announced
This isn’t an official part of the game update, but today Zwift announced via their socials that Zwift Academy begins November 6. This is much later than past years, which began in early September.
Watch Zwift Insider for more on Zwift Academy as we get closer to the launch date!
Release Notes
Here are additional tweaks and bug fixes Zwift provided for this update, with notes from us in italics:
- Fixed an issue with the teleport feature where the rider does not automatically teleport at the end of the countdown timer.
- Fixed an issue on the Repack Rush results screen where leaderboard names would overlap other information on the screen.
- Running: Changed the ‘Best Time’ format from MM:SS to H:MM:SS.
- Fixed an issue which could cause riders to take a wrong turn at an intersection during events and Pacer Group rides.
- Improved the appearance of the moon.
- Elite Rizer: Improved steering responsiveness in Repack Rush.
- Elite Rizer: Fixed an issue that prevented intersection route selection via steering.
- Windows / macOS / Android
- Fixed an issue where the elevation icon was offset from the HUD on Time Trial events.
- Fixed a crash that could occur when using Zwift Companion to end an activity while the Race Results screen was visible.
- Android
- Improved navigation to the intro slideshow when running Zwift for the first time
- macOS
- Fixed black squares in France near Marina Sprint where a stone bridge meets the road surface.
See and discuss release notes in the Zwift forum >
Questions or Comments?
If you spotted any other changes or bugs in the update, please comment below!
It seems the 250xp bonus has lreadu been reduced? I really made the most of the 250xp bonuses. Moving from lv51 to lv59 in 6 weeks. After returning from a week’s holiday this week, two climbs of Bealach Na Ba including looping back through arches on the descents ( 40 arches in total) I received zero 250xp bonuses. I’m happy that I made the most of it while I could
The last two climbs I’ve done (both of the new ones) the power ups haven’t just been feathers or EXP – I’ve gotten more drafts trucks than anything and even the aero helmet. Don’t know if that’s intentional or a bug?
In over a hundred climbs and looped descents, One never had anything other than feather, 250 or 10xp. I saw a draft once. Really not sure how some people get those. Must be a glitch?
In fact, it will be over 1000 due to looping for hours between arches. Do you select the climb from the startup menu or join Watopia volcano / Mt St Michel and self navigate? Just wondered if that makes a difference
You make a good point – I wonder if it’s a glitch based on how I select them? The last couple I’ve selected the climb from the world map but not from the climb portal as I want to do the climbs in Watopia. But I navigate away for the climb so I can warm up going around the volcano – the climb preview shows that it does this automatically but it does not. I wonder if the navigating away breaks something? It has happened on some of the other climbs as well (I’ve done them all) but haven’t found… Read more »
I should add that my husband does the same thing and also gets all the power ups, so it’s not just me.
I get a ton of draft vans and aero helmets whenever I do the Climb Portal climbs. It seems like if you do any manual navigation before the climb, it causes the issue. In other words, you get the wrong powerups if you don’t ride the Climb Portal route as intended. I always select the Climb Portal route from the menu before starting my ride, but I manually navigate a lap around the Volcano to warm up and get wacky powerups on the climb.
I did the the Portal this week from a free ride (not the menu) and saw 2 or 3 aero bonuses and I think no 250xp ones… Was quite surprised and sad.
Looping back through the arches on the descent seems to not trigger any PU now? I did Belach na Bar this morning – looped back through 9 on the way down, got nothing. Carried on to the finish banner, did get an XP bonus again. Tried a couple of other arches on the descent, no rewards at them either now.
Ah right. I haven’t done a climb since the update this week. Personally, I’m not concerned as I only need 8000xp for lv60. It was good while it lasted. I didn’t think I would get lv60 this year and it will be done in a few days. One less thing to motivate me though.
They haven’t added bikes or wheels in a long time, any reason ?
Last I heard, they wanted to add a bunch of bikes/wheels at once, instead of dribbling them out. Not sure on the ETA though.
Huiii, this sounds interesting Eric … I think you already missed that to test the new in-game stuff 😉 … frames from Bianchi, Look & Merida would be cool 😎
It would be nicer if they did phased releases.
when they do it all at once, I wait for Eric’s fastest and buy it once. I have enough drops to do so.
when they do it phased. I buy it when it is faster. When again a newer faster frame is released. I will curse because I’m out of drops so I have to earn them before able to buy (rinse and repeat) this will keep
me busy for another several months?
Where is Zwift Play for non-US, UK or EU based Zwifters?
the powerup calculations dont count in if you got nothing?!? I have no powerup very often . ;(
If you’re riding as a workout, you won’t get powerups. Also, if you’re riding a tri bike, no powerups.
When is the video clip available on windows
Already is, for most machines. https://zwiftinsider.com/video-screenshots-windows/
Yes, is available, but never uploaded to anywhere. I check the video to be saved with the activity, you see a progression bar which makes it look like is uploading. But when you enter the activity via Companio or Zwift website, only images appear, no videos. Check the folder My Videos/Zwift, and they are there. Also the videos do not appear in Strava, but maybe I had another issue there because neither does the images.
“Improved the appearance of the moon.” Now, there’s one I didn’t see coming.
Jokes aside, good to see all the coding work and development continuing monthly.
Yeah, do we have before and after images? I wonder who looked at the in game image and reckoned that was a priority (the office astronomy geek presumably!) The constellations on Watopia need some work 🙂
Great! Now that there’s an Apple Silicon build supporting more than Basic graphics at 30fps, any word on it getting ported to iPad to replace the ancient mobile port we’ve been stuck with?
iPad already runs natively. I’m not sure the “port” is ancient… it’s more that Zwift hasn’t dialed in the quality settings for the various capabilities of various iOS devices.
Eric, does this have any implications for Apple TV and it’s latest hardware? Will this latest release see improved graphics performance on ATV?
It does not. I know Zwift has plans to improve things for ATV, but I don’t know any timelines. I’m sure they’ll include it in the release notes if the ATV experience gets upgraded, though.
As an iPad user, it would be nice to have the same functionality as PCs. We currently don’t see the information at the bottom of the screen indicating how far riders are behind. It’s a bit of a challenge when riding at the front in a TTT. Forces us to ride with the rear-view option on when taking pulls.
Agreed, there are many features missing from the iPad build. Would also be nice to have keyboard shortcuts, and mouse-look or a swipe to look.
Yes, Zwift has always had an ARM-native build for iPad (why it was confusing the macOS version took so long). I just also figured they were waiting on getting an ARM build for macOS before bringing better assets across all Apple platforms. Why else would iPad be so limited? I don’t think, 7-8 generations of hardware later, it’s really a matter of them still ‘dialing in’. It’s unlikely the old mobile port even has high-res assets as part of its compiled resources. This ‘graphic profile’ business just seems like a mess. Why not make all detail levels and resolutions available,… Read more »
You im improve appearance of the moon but zwift can’t acknowledge and reward endurance riders for 100 miles /162km or 100 laps of the volcano. Also nothing for 24hr zwift riders you could at least give us a jersey in honour of our crazy endurance.
? Was there not a badge for a 100m ride?
There is, IanMac. For 100 miles and 100km.
You get the 100 mile kit for riding 100 miles and a badge for everesting. I don’t think they should encourage anything crazier than that.
Does this update also bring graphic improvements on the ipad pro (M1/M2)?
I don’t believe so.
When using atv remote hitting Siri microphone button disconnects my trainer and I have to repair it
Only since last update home button also has same effect
Can someone say how’s the performance on Mac Mini after the update (in terms of resolutions available and graphic profile used)?
One question. Highliting your avatar when riding in packs was promised for this summer, but hasn’t arrive yet. Is still coming, or it will be lost like tears in the rain. An d one commentary. Apart from reducing the 250 XP bonus, is there any plan to modify the availability of climb portals. Something that 2 or 3 options, a faster rotation. Even a random assignation of a climb when you cross the portal. Or even better, as a reward for finishing the climb let the rider chose any ot the climbs to do after. Thanks for all the info… Read more »
Hopefully it’s just behind ‘route based workouts’ that we were promised last season!
Rider highlighting is coming, and I hear that Climb Portal scheduling is going to change too.
It appears that starting with version 1.46, Zwift no longer supports Picture in Picture (PIP) on Apple TV. While PIP appears to still function normally, the Zwift avatar will stop peddling once the user switches to the PIP small screen and activates the PIP volume. The Zwift avatar rider on the large Zwift screen will simply come to a stop and cannot be re-accelerated. Everything else in the PIP screens appear normal, but they are not. What has happened? Shawn Millers YouTube on this topic, this, is no longer accurate. What’s the problem?
I tried to double up on the climb portal power-ups by u-turning back through the arches on the way down tonight as I’ve done several times in the past, and nothing came up. Did they nerf this too? If so, I’m not really seeing any incentive to go to climbing portal on the current two week rotation. At least in the past there was an XP “boost” if you will.
I may have a potential bug, I rode yesterday in a group event and at the end of the event Zwift just froze. It never unfroze and I was forced to end the activity through Companion. When I did this, the Zwift app just disappeared, and I was concerned about losing the ride. It appears that it uploaded correctly, but still, this has never happened to me before.
I also have the same problem, Zwift froze three times today, I kept hearing sound but the image was frozen. My PC is quite new and I never had any problems before version 1.47. I am also using the Play controllers which are updated to the latest firmware version 1.2.0.
Same thing happened to me never before but yesterday and I’m on ipad
@Eric Schlange , do you happen to know if it’s a bug (meaning it might be fixed – hopefully before the Temples and Towers race in ZRL) or a planned feature (not going to be fixed) that, when we go to the garage to change bikes, we now start at the bike at the very top of the list alphabetically rather than the bike we’re currently on? It’s been a long time since I’ve done any in-race bike swapping, but I’m low enough power these days that doing it twice (Tron-gravel-Tron) might save me a bit of time in ZRL… Read more »
I got what I believe is an annoying bug with this version : I had 452,000 XP before a standard climb portal ride, got 2 feathers, 3x the 250 XP bonus, and hence 5x 10 XP, and rode 21 km total (plus I bagged an extra 10 XP under the Volcano arch), which should mean I got (750+50+10+21×20 = 1,230 XP) which should add to 453,230 XP, alas, I now have 453,003 XP. There’s something wrong with the maths. Especially the 3 XP are funny, you usually get them while doing workouts, which wasn’t the case here.
Elite Rizer problems with new update on ipad. It seems like the latest zwift update has spoiled the use of elite rizer anywhere else in zwift than on Ripack Ridge. In this mornings first Tiny Race it permanently placed me outside of any draft on the left side of the road away from the rest of the peloton, and I had to deactivate the rizor for the last three races in order to at least finish some of them. I tested the elite rizer on two other races/rides and it was the same problem – when connected to elite rizer… Read more »
I had exactly the same problem today on Android during a group ride in Makuri Islands. First ride since updating to 1.47.
Hi! Love the delivery of Apple Silicon. However, since upgrading on my M1 mac, Elite Rizer steering is not working. Elevation is fine, and my Kickr is fine, and Zwift is showing the steering icon in game, but steering functionality is dead. I’ve tried all the usual trouble shooting that Zwift, Wahoo, and Elite recommend and don’t see it posted elsewhere. So I’m reporting this as a bug and hope you can help resolve.
It seems that Zwift, with release of 1.46+, eliminated ability if PIP to function for Apple TV users. As soon as we enable PIP, the Zwift Avatar just stops peddling & cannot be restored. Anyone else having this issue?
yep, same issue for me. Zwift loses all Bluetooth connections when you focus on PiP 😧