Meta’s ambitious push into the metaverse largely faltered, but the virtual reality fitness sensation Supernatural managed to stand out as a rare success. Following fears that the platform would be shuttered, Meta has announced that the game will survive as an independent entity, ensuring its continued operation for a dedicated user base.
The Long Road to Acquisition and Uncertainty
Meta’s acquisition of Within, the studio behind Supernatural, was far from straightforward. The company endured a grueling eight-month antitrust battle to finalize the 2023 deal, which was reportedly valued at roughly $400 million—excluding the significant legal costs required to overcome an FTC lawsuit. Despite this heavy investment, Meta eventually laid off a large portion of its VR team and signaled a halt to new content development, leaving the future of the popular fitness app in jeopardy.
A Pivot to Independence
Responding to intense pressure from a community that protested the app’s potential demise, Meta has opted to spin off the project. The Supernatural team is transitioning into a new independent company branded as Supernatural Health, which is set to assume full control of the application later this year.
“Supernatural is being reborn. Same coaches, same DNA, same obsession with making fitness feel like the best part of your day — now under a new, independent company we’re starting from the ground up,” the team stated on its website. The new venture is being led by the original founders of the studio.
Navigating the Corporate Transition
The move marks a strange conclusion to a complex corporate saga. While the outcome preserves the service, the process has drawn criticism for the instability it caused users. Regarding the transition, Supernatural Health wrote: “We’re grateful for the platform and resources Meta provided during a critical growth phase. This transition reflects a shared belief that Supernatural’s community is best served by a focused, independent team. Meta has been supportive throughout.”
For the loyal user base, the news is a massive relief. One member of the public Supernatural Facebook group wrote: “Like so many of us I was so devastated when the coaches were let go and we were told our beloved Supernatural, while we loved it and it was great, would never get any better than it was. What we had was what we had. We all felt like it was purchased to kill. I am such a sap. Why am I tearing up?”
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