Peloton to launch Zwift competitor: New video game beta will be a Zwift-style game

Peloton appears set to launch their own video game training mode along the lines of Zwift.

Last week, we shared that Peloton is launching 3 new beta programs soon – a new Strength+ app, personal training plans, and a new “immersive, gaming-inspired cycling experience” video game.

New data has surfaced that indicates this new video game beta will be an experience along the lines of Zwift. In other words – this appears to be Peloton’s Zwift competitor.

For many years, Peloton members have asked for Peloton to let them use Zwift on their Peloton bikes. Intrepid Peloton members have taken matters into their own hands, and figured out how to load the actual Zwift app onto Peloton, although this requires a bit of debugging and manual steps (and the methods may have changed since then). With the launch of Peloton Entertainment, and things like Peloton making third-party Ergatta video games available on the Peloton Row, some thought Peloton might be closer to providing a more seamless method to use Zwift on Peloton.

However, it now appears that Peloton is taking a different approach – and is building their own multiplayer cycling training program. Rather than let Peloton members load the Zwift app & worlds (and potentially have them decide they like Zwift more than Peloton and cancel their subscription) – Peloton can try to create a similar experience through their own training games.

First, for those who are unfamiliar with Zwift – it is “a massively multiplayer online cycling and running physical training program that enables users to interact, train, and compete in a virtual world.” In other words – you see a video game version of yourself, and as you run, or ride, your character moves in the world. If you are cycling, you see a cyclist on the road, who speeds up and speeds down as you pedal faster or slower. You can pick between a few worlds, and can either ride at your own pace, or race with others who are in the game at the same time as you.

Although Peloton was a bit vague when they announced that the new beta cycling game was coming – a Zwift-style game matches up with how Peloton described it. Peloton’s exact words describing the “gaming-inspired workouts” in the upcoming beta were:

A new immersive, gaming-inspired cycling experience meant to encourage social engagement. Users will be able to cycle in a virtual training environment, including a personalized avatar riding through simulated landscapes, either alone or with other virtual riders.

This would line up with a Zwift style experience. In Zwift – you have a personalized avatar that you can customize and it moves as you ride (or run). The Peloton beta says you can “cycle in a virtual training environment”, which is the whole concept of Zwift. It mentions “simulated landscapes”, which could be the equivalent of “worlds” in Zwift. Zwift currently has 12 worlds available, and within each of those you can find many routes & segments. In Zwift, each day riders pick from the main “Watopia” world or two “Guest Worlds” that are changed on a rotating basis.

Peloton went on to note that in this new beta, you can ride “either alone or with other virtual riders” – which again matches the Zwift experience. In Zwift, you can ride at your own pace or training plan. You can also decide to do a race with others who are on at the same time, or pace off them for motivation for your own training.

Although data points to Peloton’s upcoming beta game being a Zwift competitor – there are lots of open questions remaining that won’t be known until we see the beta in action. For example – how do Peloton’s graphics compare to Zwift. Zwift can run on a wide variety of devices (including smartphones), while Peloton is limited by the RAM and CPUs included in the tablets already shipping with their devices.

Going beyond questions of what level of graphics can the Peloton screens support – Zwift first launched in beta in 2014, before fully launching in 2015. This means that Zwift has been developing and enhancing their games for nearly a decade – so we will have to see what Peloton’s initial effort at this style of game looks like. However, Peloton has been building their video game experience through enhancements in their Lanebreak video game, so some of the same ground work could be used across both games.

Another open question would be whether this game is included in the same monthly fee Peloton members are already paying. There has been no evidence thus far to suggest it won’t be – and the Lanebreak video game is included already. But, as Peloton continues to try to enhance their profitability, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine them segmenting some newer features with an add-on cost, particularly ones that can stand on their own such as a Zwift style game.

Although Zwift currently supports both running & cycling, Peloton’s announcement of the beta program only mentioned cycling – it didn’t hint at a running version of the beta. Assuming it is a success, and is rolled out to all members, it’s possible it could be expanded to running as well down the road – this is how Lanebreak evolved over time.

Would you be interested in seeing a Zwift style game & training mode on your Peloton Bike or Bike+? (Or Tread/Tread+ down the road)

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