There are already plenty of suggestions to improve TPV’s graphics, aiming to make the experience more immersive and realistic. I fully support these ideas and I’m genuinely excited about all the positive developments in that area. However, I believe one crucial element of immersion is still being underdeveloped: sound.

The feeling of realism, of getting absorbed, of truly being present, isn’t just about visuals. Sound is just as important. I’d even go so far as to say that sound is a key reason why I still find Zwift the most immersive of the three options: TPV, BikeTerra and Zwift. If I were to simplify things based on my own experience, I’d describe these three apps like this:

• TPV has the race physics and is overall the best and most complete app.
• BikeTerra features awesome animations and lifelike reproduction of GPX routes.
• Zwift is super accessible and highly immersive.

To improve TPV even more, a lot of investment is already going into graphics. Which is great, but I’d love to see improvements in sound as well. I want to feel truly present in TPV. I want to hear myself riding over different surfaces and sense speed differences through sound. I want to hear the whoosh as I pass a wind turbine, the crashing waves of the sea... That’s currently missing for me, and it makes the world of TPV still feel quite distant, despite all the graphic improvements.

TPV does have some sound effects at the moment, but to me, they don’t really add much to the experience or immersion. The current sounds might actually take a little bit away from the experience for me a little, like that one bird that keeps chirping the exact same tune over and over again. I would love to see that improved.