If you’re a rider that trains and races primarily inside, you want to stop what you’re doing — things are about to get interesting. Zwift’s newest offering to the indoor world, Zwift Play, has just dropped, and along with it, ease of use for all indoor riders. Zwift Play is the first game controller designed specifically for bike riding. The new controller lets users master their gaming and riding experience without leaving the bike.
Game Controllers — What does that mean?
Zwift Play takes the controls and actions riders use on the Companion App (Ride-on, FTP Adjustments, Skip Intervals – etc.), and puts them in your hands… or on your shifters to be more accurate. Now riders can control, steer, and brake from the controllers, giving laptops and tablets much-needed sweat breaks.
How Does Zwift Play Work?
The Zwift Play controllers are compatible with all shifter bodies and types. The controller body attaches similarly to a bike light with rubberized silicon straps. The controllers arrive with shims to make the installation and fitment sturdy and easy to access with just the thumb. Once they are mounted, the controllers will give Zwifters complete control — once you go through the video tutorial, that is.
The pads work very much like game controllers you’d find on an older Playstation, Nintendo, etc. On the left-hand side, there is a directional pad. This movement pad allows for navigation of game menus and enables Zwifters to select turns or perform U-Turns while exploring Zwift’s virtual worlds.
On the right-hand controller, the buttons are laid out similarly but are not connected in the center. This separate yet together diamond shape design is easily navigable without looking down, so you don’t miss out on the action ( or push the wrong button). The right-hand controller buttons allow riders to make selections in menus when stationary. When riding, the buttons act as shortcuts to give Ride Ons, unleash PowerUps, skip workout blocks, teleport to Pacer Groups, and more.
How Do the Controllers Steer?
The right and left controllers feature paddles that deliver steering and braking functionality. Zwift underwent extraordinary testing to determine how to incorporate starring and braking. They arrived at a simple movement; Rock the paddle inwards to brake and pull out to steer — simple, right?
Will Steering and Braking Help Me Win Races?
Yes — but it will take a while for those updates to take shape and make it to Zwift racing. From the launch, Zwifters can steer in events and while in freeride mode — allowing riders to test their skills and cut time off at every apex.
New Zwift Track — Announcing Repack Rush
Zwift Play controllers will launch alongside a new Beta Zwift Play Game Experience. The first of these new experiences is the renewed Repack Rush (formerly Repack Ridge). Repack Rush showcases some of the new functionality of the new game controllers. The course tests Zwifters on a twisting segment where they need to dodge braking pads, snag boost pads and collect time bonuses to set a time. Like Mario Cart, but you get to call it training!
If you’re an indoor rider using Zwift for most rides, expect to see new game experiences launched over the coming months. So be on the lookout for experience changes and some home screen updates.
Availability and Pricing
During this beta testing phase, Zwift Play Controllers will be available for a limited time at a discounted price of $99//£99//€99. The planned MSRP will be $149//£149//€149.
Zwift Play is available for purchase in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union zwift.com/play
