As some of you may have already seen in single-player mode, we’ve continued developing our new game mechanics for steering and have released some updates this January.
From January 15, 2024 to February 15, 2024 we welcome you to the next phase of community testing! Events will run in a limited series during this time and require a steering device to be connected. You’ll be able to sign-up for events in any of the regular places on the web, Zwift Companion, and in game. Read on for more details.
Repack Rush Single-Player & Event Updates
With the latest release, we’ve updated the Repack Rush boosts, hazards, and time pick-ups to now utilize the same dynamic functions as on the full-width steering Crit City course! Some boost pads will swap to be hazards, while others will slide across the road. Time pick-ups will also feature sliding actions, so keep ready to adapt your line.
These updated mechanics are available in both single-player mode and multi-player events.
Repack Rush Events will have 5 start times every Wednesday and Sunday in a tiny race format where riders will race down this short route five (5) times in a row. Tie up those laces and find your strategy for the lowest moving plus pick-up time deduction combo.
Repack Rush Events - Wednesdays and Sundays
5 back-to-back races at each start time
Starts at 5a, 12p, 3p, 6p, 10p Pacific
Find all the events here https://www.zwift.com/events/tag/repackrush
Crit City Race Updates
In the new release, we’ve reduced the number of static boosts/hazards in favor of dynamic ones. For those who want to really test your strategy skills, the Boost Power Up has been updated - now the number of charges you receive will vary based on your race position every time you cross the lap arch.
Crit City races will continue to be 3 laps of The Bell Lap route every Monday and Saturday with five (5) start times each day.
Crit City Events - Mondays and Saturdays
The Bell Lap - 3 laps
Starts at 5a, 12p, 3p, 6p, 10p Pacific
Find all the events here https://www.zwift.com/events/tag/critcityrush
I have no idea what you’re talking about, can you tell me how these game mechanics work?
Absolutely! Here is what you need to know:
Boost Pads
These blue boost pads will give you a boost of acceleration, you can even link the boost pads together to increase your acceleration further. Each individual pad gives a speed increase of 10kph.
Hazard Pads
These red hazard pads will slow you down so make sure that you steer away from these to avoid having your momentum decreased. The effect on you as a rider is that your speed will decrease by 85%
Time Deductions (Repack Rush Only Feature)
Collect these as you ride on Repack Rush, each one is worth 0.2 seconds and the total amount you collect will be subtracted from the time it takes you to complete the event from when it starts, the moment the event clock countdown hits zero to when you cross the finish line.
Check the results screen to see how you performed against others and look at what tactics worked best; go hard and fast to the finish, or take your time and collect as many time deductions as you can.
Boost Power Up (Crit City Only Feature)
This is a revised Power Up for Crit City Futureworks events which gives you a speed boost of 10kph on each charge. Every time you pass the Lap arch (including at the start) you will receive a number of charges based on your race position. The Boost Power Up only charges if you cross the lap arch with zero on your current counter, so deploy them wisely throughout the race!
The distribution of charges in this new version grants, in order of crossing the lap arch:
1 charge to the first 10%
2 charges to the next 70%
3 charges to the last 20%
What you’ll need:
- Zwift game version 1.56 or newer.
- A supported steering device: Zwift Play controllers, Elite Sterzo Smart, Elite Rizer (if paired to a compatible Elite smart trainer), Jetblack Smart Turn Block, or Wahoo KICKR Bike.
- Zwift Companion app is not required, but deploying Boost power-ups is quicker using its Action Bar.
When are the events?
Events will be available on a limited schedule starting from Monday, January 15, 2024 through to Thursday, February 15, 2024.
Repack Rush Events https://www.zwift.com/events/tag/repackrush
Crit City Events https://www.zwift.com/events/tag/critcityrush
We understand the number of available events is limited, but the experience for these gamified events is much better when you can ride with others. We’ve increased the starts per day in hopes you can find a time that fits your schedule. We will be monitoring the size of the events, and once we see the need for more events, we will add more to the schedule.
The usage of this event functionality is limited to Zwift-owned events only for the foreseeable future.
Why can’t I join the event?
You can sign up for the events by logging into the Zwift Game, on the web or through Zwift Companion; however, you will not be able to join the events unless you have a steering device paired on the pairing screen.
Feedback
We’d love to hear about your experiences in these events and a bit about how you normally Zwift. Please let us know below!
Lastly - following our usual practice, we’ll auto-close this thread after February 18, 2024 to keep comments relevant to this phase of testing. As we move forward, we’ll start a fresh discussion for subsequent tests. Thanks everyone!
