My Favorite VR Fitness App Supernatural Is Returning, and It Won't Be Owned by Meta
The existing app will stay live for now, but users must move to a new version this fall as annual prices rise to $180, Meta said.
- Meta announced this week that the virtual reality fitness app Supernatural will spin off into an independent company called Supernatural Health, launching as a separate app on the Meta Horizon Store later this fall.
- Acquired for $400 million in 2023, Supernatural faced a content freeze earlier this year that sparked widespread user backlash, prompting Meta to halt new workouts, songs, and features.
- Supernatural Health confirmed original coaches will return to maintain the app's identity, though the current version will be sunsetted on Dec 3, requiring users to transfer subscriptions.
- Subscription costs will rise under the independent model, with annual memberships increasing from $100 to $180 and monthly plans jumping from $10 to $20.
- This divestiture follows a broader corporate pivot away from the metaverse, as Meta slashed roughly 1,500 jobs across Reality Labs in January and redirected billions toward AI-powered wearables.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Meta spins off Supernatural VR fitness app after $400M acquisition
In 2023, Meta fought an eight-month antitrust battle with the Federal Trade Commission for the right to acquire Within, the studio behind the VR fitness app Supernatural. The deal was reportedly worth around $400 million. Mark Zuckerberg even testified in court to get it done. Less than three years later, Meta is handing it back. The company announced […] This story continues at The Next Web
Supernatural isn’t dead after all
DeeDee Henry works out using VR at her home in Ventura, California. | Photo by Maggie Shannon / The Verge A few months ago, Meta effectively handed Supernatural, a popular VR fitness game on the Meta Quest, a death sentence. As part of overarching VR layoffs, the company announced the game would no longer get any new content, enraging its tightly knit, devoted community. Now it looks like Supernatural is getting a second chance. Today, Meta ann…
The future of Supernatural seemed definitely compromised a few months ago. The fitness application in virtual reality, appreciated for its playful approach to training, had nevertheless managed to stand out in an area where many projects related to metavers have struggled to convince. After several disturbing announcements and a strong mobilization of its ... Read more The article Supernatural regains its independence after an unexpected change …
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