Meta Spins Off VR Fitness App Supernatural to New Company

Meta is offloading its virtual reality fitness platform, Supernatural, allowing the game to continue operations under a new, independent entity. The move follows months of uncertainty regarding the future of the app, which had faced potential shutdown after Meta reduced its internal VR development efforts.

The app will transition to Supernatural Health, a newly formed company established by the original founders of the studio Within. This spin-off is set to take full control of the platform later this year, ensuring that the service remains available to its dedicated user base.

A Shift in Strategy

The decision marks a significant turnaround for Meta, which acquired Within in 2023 for an estimated $400 million. The acquisition was preceded by a grueling eight-month antitrust legal battle with the Federal Trade Commission. Despite the high cost of the purchase and the legal defense, Meta eventually pivoted its strategy, laying off a large portion of its VR team and halting the development of new content for the fitness title.

The prospect of the app being effectively abandoned sparked intense backlash from the community, with many users expressing fears that their favorite platform was being purchased solely to be dismantled. One user in the official Supernatural Facebook group described the sentiment, noting the devastation felt when coaches were let go and updates were ceased.

Continuity for Users

According to the official Supernatural Health website, the platform aims to maintain its core identity during the transition:

• Retention of the original coaching staff.
• Preservation of the existing fitness philosophy and app “DNA.”
• Operation under a fully independent corporate structure.

In a public statement, the team at Supernatural Health acknowledged the support received from Meta throughout the transition. “We’re grateful for the platform and resources Meta provided during a critical growth phase,” the company stated. “This transition reflects a shared belief that Supernatural’s community is best served by a focused, independent team.”

While the move provides a lifeline for the software, it highlights the complex relationship between major tech conglomerates and the niche communities they acquire. By spinning off the asset, Meta avoids the total shuttering of a product that had become a staple for its VR fitness users, handing the reins back to the original creators who built the platform from the ground up.