Imagine pouring your heart and soul into a fitness routine, only to have the rug pulled out from under you. That's precisely what's happening to fans of Meta's 'Supernatural' VR fitness app – and the reason might surprise you. Despite rave reviews and a hefty price tag, Meta is halting further development, leaving subscribers in a state of virtual shock.
Stephen Johnson, Senior Staff Writer at Lifehacker, reports that Meta, citing "organizational changes," will no longer be releasing new content or updating features for the Supernatural VR fitness app. Johnson, who also pens the popular columns “The Out of Touch Adults’ Guide to Kid Culture” and “What People are Getting Wrong this Week,” brings his expertise in pop culture and technology to shed light on this unexpected move. His extensive background includes work with NBC/Universal’s G4TV, Blumhouse, and various other media outlets, providing a well-rounded perspective on the situation.
But here's where it gets controversial... The app isn't vanishing entirely. Subscribers still have access to the existing library of workouts, reminiscent of the popular Beat Saber game. Meta has promised to maintain the platform and its Facebook page. However, the promise of fresh workouts, innovative features, and exciting new content is now just a ghost in the virtual machine.
Supernatural wasn't just another VR app; it was a critically acclaimed experience. CNet lauded it with a 9/10 score, and it snagged awards from Fast Company and a Webby in 2023. It even boasted celebrity endorsements from icons like Jane Fonda and Bon Jovi. The Supernatural Facebook community boasts over 110,000 members, a testament to its dedicated user base. Is Meta underestimating the power of its fitness community?
And this is the part most people miss... The financial commitment Meta made to Supernatural. Back in 2021, Meta shelled out a staggering $400 million to acquire Within, the studio behind Supernatural. They even fought the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to secure the deal, viewing the app as a cornerstone of their grand "Metaverse" strategy. To simply cease development seems almost contradictory to their original vision!
This decision isn't happening in a vacuum. It's part of a larger pullback from VR by Meta. Recently, the company laid off a significant portion of its Reality Labs division – roughly 1,500 employees, or 10% of the staff. A Meta spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal, “We said last month that we were shifting some of our investment from Metaverse toward Wearables. This is part of that effort.” This indicates a strategic shift away from the immersive virtual world and toward more tangible, wearable technology.
Adding insult to injury, Meta is also shuttering three studios known for their prominent, high-end VR games: Armature, responsible for bringing Resident Evil 4 to VR; Sanzaru, the creative force behind Asgard’s Wrath; and Twisted Pixel, the masterminds behind Deadpool VR. These closures suggest a widespread reassessment of Meta's VR ambitions.
What does this mean for the future of VR fitness? Is Meta abandoning its commitment to the Metaverse, or is this a temporary strategic adjustment? Does the closure of Supernatural reflect a lack of user adoption, or is it simply a casualty of corporate restructuring? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Are you a Supernatural user who feels let down? Or do you believe Meta is making the right move by focusing on wearables?
