ZwiftHQ has released an update for Zwift (version 1.0.18507 on PC/Mac, version 1.0.18494 on iOS). Here are the details on some of the most notable changes.
Spectators and Pedestrians
This was the biggest surprise in this update, and it certainly increases the realism. Game Master Jon Mayfield had this to say:
For so long I’ve kept the spectators out of Zwift mostly due to performance and memory constraints (Zwift users typically have pretty low end graphics chips), but finally we decided to go for it.
Our first attempt may be overly cautious, but I want to see how it all works out from a performance standpoint across the entire zwift userbase. If it all looks good we’ll probably increase the quality of the people a bit and add more of them while we’re at it. If it turns out to be a more major slowdown than expected, then we may cut some out.
We don’t have spectators on Watopia or Richmond yet, but Mayfield says Watopia will get them eventually. (I hope Richmond will, too!)
Having non-riding people on course increases the realism dramatically.
New London Roads
We’ve got a new stretch of mostly flat road southwest of the Classique Loop, ~7.5km (4.7 miles) in length. Along with the new scenery there are three new route options:
- Greater London 8 (14.8mi / 23.8km) – This route covers the expansion, before heading out to Box hill for the finish. Strava Forward Segment > Strava Reverse Segment >
- Greater London Loop (13.2mi / 21.2km) – A big loop around the outside of the course. Strava Segment >
- The London Pretzel (34.6mi / 55.7km) – All roads, in both directions. Strava Segment >
(More route details and Zwift Insider verified segments coming soon.)
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- Greater London 8
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- Greater London Loop
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- The London Pretzel
New Watopia Route
Finally, a route that takes us up the new volcano climb! If you’re looking to do some real work, look no further: the new “Three Sisters” route (30.0mi / 48.3km with 2942′ of climbing) is the shortest route covering all 3 climbs. (Route details and Zwift Insider verified segments coming soon.) Strava Segment >
Watopia: Three Sisters (30.0mi / 48.3km)
Non-Event Riders Hidden
Some events will have non-event riders hidden entirely. This is an exciting feature for racers, since it eliminates the oddities of having non-racers on course.
Visible Group Classifications
For group riders/races, the rider list on the right now shows which group (A/B/C/D/E) each rider is in, making it easy to identify who is in your group when racing.
Run Workout Support
Workouts are now supported for running mode, with three test workouts available.
Assos “Go Long London” Mission
A new mission has launched, allowing Zwifters to unlock an exclusive Assos kit if they complete the new London Pretzel route. (More details to follow in an additional post).
French Language Support
Japanese was the first non-English language supported (added in May’s update) so French, being the “language of cycling,” seems like a logical second.
See release notes from Jon Mayfield >
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- Coming back into the Classique area
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- “The Empty Bidon”
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- Battersea Power Station, with a nod to Pink Floyd
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- Blue lanes of greater London flat
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- Broom Wagon (with a bike rack)
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- Check out the guy on the moped behind the bus! More vehicles coming soon?
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- Tunnels are fun
On one hand they’ve done a great job with the graphics but the ride itself over a fairly flatish route is pretty boring. Now that they’ve finished this section they need to add some variety with some undulating country roads, something that will give my smart trainer and me a bit of work to do. Let’s hope the next course expansion is Watopia and something that will really wow us.
A couple notable glitches that come along with this update: power numbers of custom workouts can’t be adjusted (you can’t backspace the flashing slash mark). Also, in-ride power percentage adjustments don’t work anymore. It shows that you can still change your power up or down 10% while you’re riding, but the power output to the pedals (and the main box on the screen) remains at 100%.
Hey Derek! The FTP bias bug is known and will be fixed.
I’m confused about the power number edit problem you’re encountering, can you let me know what OS you’re building your workouts on? The only ‘flashing’ I see in the edit boxes is the text cursor.
Yes, that’s what I’m referring to, the text cursor. It is in front of the numbers. I can’t backspace and erase to enter adjusted numbers. If I want to adjust the numbers I have to hold the arrow a ways off to the right of the numbers (which is odd), and click to move the text cursor behind the numbers to change them. I wish I knew how to explain it better. I’m using Windows 8.1 on my laptop.
I understand! We will reexamine our hit boxes for those, and in the meantime, try the directional keys on your keyboard. Thanks for the report!
Did you also have any issues with trying to change direction with the latest update? I couldn’t this morning, no U-turns or left and right turns via the Android app. The onscreen boxes only displayed the current priority direction.
Lindsay, thanks, the directional keys do move the text cursor back so I can adjust the numbers now. Still not sure why I can’t move it with the mouse like I always did, but … whatever. Have someone look into why the text cursor isn’t aligning with the text.
The cycle superhighways are a nice touch, they look ace even if we’re not riding in them! Loving all the new pubs along the way too, further adding to the London scenery and overall feel of the course. I’m a big fan of all the landmarks. Super cool.
Not sure how I feel about the people on course yet – especially if it stresses my GPU further. On the London and Richmond courses it seems like a good call as they were real races where thousands of spectators lined up to watch. That’s pretty cool (had to do a double take when I first logged in after the update). I don’t think I’d want them on Watopia. It would detract from the crumbling, desolate and eerily abandoned island feel which makes it totally unique. Like it’s a land simply for cyclists!
I agree with the spectators. My usually decent FPS got crushed going around Trafalgar Sq. (I think) with the spectators and other riders. The crowd volume was a bit over the top as well.
I agree ?
Wow, that’s a lot up updates. I’m glad to see the world is now populated (at least London) with people. Great to have new options for Watopia and London.
Don’t really want people. Is there an option that I can turn it off? Maybe a dog to chase you up Box Hill. Don’t see the need for lots of flat roads either. I’ll probably do the pretzel to get the jersey. But, nothing excites me about this update. I’m a HUGE Zwift fan/addict. We didn’t get the level-up (26+) . I know…’next update’
The best course for the volcano climb would be to add it to the two smaller climbs. Adding it to the Tower climb seems like a course few will want to race on.
Well, I will just think back, how excited I was for the volcano. At least that lived up to its billing and beyond my expectations. It’s great!!!
Now, try to give us a course that is FUN, more of a game, with out-of-this-world features…like a loop or a ramp jump. Take it up a notch. don’t regress. Listen to your paying customers. This could have been better. It feels like nobody is listening and a bad decision was made to add a flat city route. I never want to get out on my bike (in real life) and ride through the city. Small hills and meadows with cows with bells, drafting behind a hay truck, that’s what outdoor cycling is about.
This^. I do appreciate the updates and know that it’s takes a lot of work to introduce new features, the testing, formats, etc. I love the platform and look forward to all the updates. This has made riding inside fun
With the latest update, there were a few fun anomalies – a few people walking in place or doing the “moonwalk” forwards, people shaking out umbrella’s when it was raining, but none over their heads, and a few folks walking into each other.
It would be fun to have some “easter eggs” of sorts, the chasing dog like Zee mentioned, a rabid fan, that with a keystroke, you can push out of the way :D, a car or truck to follow – a bit more realism, but done creatively – it is a gaming atmosphere so there can be some levity (using the “wave” button, makes the fans wave back).
Lastly, will it ever stop snowing on the tower climb? I thought at some point we’d see the snow disappear and some summer flowers come up with the occasional sheep crossing the road.
Thanks!
With this update, I am most interested in the “non-event riders hidden” feature. If anybody out there has experienced this already, I’d be interested in hearing what you think.
I agree with Keith. The spectators, the flat routes, the city scenery provide nothing to my experience on Zwift. I use it to train, do group rides and race the odd time. When I do this, I watch my power numbers and heart rate and try to react to the racers and/or other riders, I don’t really notice anything else around me. The major value of Zwift is riding with and against other people. I mean you are still riding in your basement, the scenery doesn’t change your mental state (other that the rain which is depressing) but riding an event or doing a training workout, you get immersed in the experience and transcend into a realm which is outside of the basement.
There is a conf line in the zwift local configuration file to remove spectators and pedestrians? Fully respect Zwift ideas but for me they are a completely unnecesary addon.
Do you mean “is there”? I haven’t heard of one…
Sorry, i’m no native speaker. I hope they allow us to remove this “addon”. I already have to set graphical detail to minimum in MacBook pro 2014. Thank you.
Love the people, by graphic card handles them beautifully, they really add to the feeling. I also like the new extension. Sometimes you want to have a long flat rout to just ride head down full steam for a few minutes. I would like other more realistic courses, I would hate non realistic stuff, there are videogames for that. Infact I do not like watopia for the unreals (volcano, under the sea), they sort of take away from the experience.
I defiantly feel that the spectators should be an option which users can switch on or off