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- Peloton is exploring the gaming space, The Verge reported.
- A new game, Lanebreak, utilizes musical cues designed to test resistance and cadence, awarding points the longer a user plays.
- The game mode is still in the early stages of development, but plans to launch in early 2022, according to CNBC.
- See more stories on Insider's business page.
Peloton is introducing a new fitness experience with an in-app game, the company announced in a press release this week.
Peloton's Lanebreak is a gaming feature that transports the "player" to a virtual track to guide a wheel-shaped avatar through obstacles and challenges synchronized to musical beats, with a similar aesthetic to the popular VR game, Beat Saber. The player has the option to choose from a variety of playlists, workouts, and difficulty levels.
Peloton grew in popularity during the coronavirus pandemic, while people socially isolated, with its popular trainer-led Peloton classes. Lanebreak is taking the next step in Peloton's effort to broaden its content for users looking for a different fitness experience.
Players can earn points through staying in the virtual lane, staying within the cadence of the song, and through the energy output during the session, according to The Verge. The longer a player is able to stay on the beat, the more points they can accrue. Riders can later challenge their friends to beat their high score.
"Just like Alex Toussaint would challenge you to finish the last 30 seconds of a tough interval, games offer a way to not only cue you to do so, but to reward you in real time for your actions," David Packles, senior director of Product Management at Peloton, said in the press release.
The game is currently in the beginning stages of development, but there have already been early play-tests with individual Peloton riders at their homes. A full-beta test is expected to be available to riders later this winter, CNBC reports.
Playpulse, a competitor to Peloton, has already come out with similar gaming features on its bikes with a variety of games already available to its users, but full versions of its games are limited to its premium subscription service.