After fighting to acquire Supernatural, Meta has placed the VR fitness app in maintenance mode, prompting questions about what comes next for virtual-reality workouts
Meta-owned Supernatural announced that it will no longer release new content or feature updates, citing “organizational changes” within its studio.
The VR fitness platform will remain active with its existing library, and its official Facebook community group will stay open, the company said.
Supernatural’s decision to halt new content arrives as Meta trims its Reality Labs division, a move that is expected to result in layoffs affecting about 10% of the unit’s workforce as the tech giant shifts its focus towards its AI initiatives.
“Due to recent organizational changes to our Studio, Supernatural will no longer receive new content or feature updates starting today,” the company confirmed in a post to its community group on Facebook. “Supernatural will remain active so you can continue your fitness journey with all currently available content.”
A Hard-Fought Acquisition
Meta’s decision lands nearly three years after it battled the Federal Trade Commission to complete its acquisition of Within, the VR studio behind Supernatural, a popular VR fitness app that offers immersive, game-based workouts.
In 2021, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg compared VR fitness subscriptions to Peloton, describing immersive workouts as a major opportunity. But during court testimony in late 2022, he struck a different tone, minimizing the importance of fitness and elevating social apps as a higher priority.
Those remarks unsettled Supernatural’s loyal community, which had formed connections with its coaches and programming. Many feared Meta would deprioritize the platform, concerns that have now come to fruition.
For many users, Tuesday’s confirmation felt like a gut punch.
“This app has been life-changing,” one poster shared on Reddit’s OculusQuest community. “Meta even fought the government to buy this app. Now they destroyed it. Sad.”
Is There a Future for VR Fitness?
While Meta steps back, companies like Virtuix are still pushing forward.
The VR hardware startup offers an Omni One system, a full-body 360-degree treadmill platform, as a new way to combine gaming and fitness. The system tracks steps, calories and distance traveled, letting users run, jump and crouch inside virtual worlds.
