Meta's Cuts Devastate Supernatural Fitness Enthusiasts

With each punch in the air, I felt the sweat bead on my skin as Imagine Dragons' rousing tunes filled my headphones. In this VR fitness world, I'm not alone—I'm joined by two new acquaintances, Chip and Alisa. Together, we're dodging and striking at flying virtual blocks on this workout platform. We're pushing our limits and redefining ourselves.

Above their avatars float simple name tags: Chip and Alisa. It's all I know about them. As the music fades, we pause, our real bodies separated by unknown distances, catching our breath. The workout involved twists, jabs, and a barrage of flying blocks that tested our skills. I came close to crashing into my TV multiple times but missed many targets, bringing our collective score down. I apologized, but they quickly reassured me.

“It’s all good,” Alisa assures me. “We're here for each other.”

“I tell myself,” Chip adds, “even if I miss, as long as I'm swinging, it's still a workout.”

His character offers me a high five. We share a smile and continue our session.

Structuring Fitness in Cyberspace

Supernatural is a virtual exercise service accessible via Quest VR headsets. It mixes the interactive elements of Peloton with virtual reality. Participants transport themselves to scenic virtual landscapes, guided by enthusiastic coaches who lead them through rhythmic boxing or flowing dance routines. Launched in 2020, Supernatural quickly excelled in Meta's app offerings, becoming a standout for VR fitness.

However, as part of broader adjustments at Meta's Reality Labs, staff cuts affected Supernatural, halting future content development. Although not shutting down immediately, there will be no more updates like new music or workout sessions. According to responses from Supernatural's representatives shared with WIRED, despite the cessation of updates, the subscription cost remains $100 annually.

For many dedicated users and fans of Supernatural, this feels like a cataclysmic change.

“It's a punch to the gut,” laments Stacey Goff Johnson, a user who lost over 100 pounds with Supernatural, improving her health significantly. “Everything can't be just about AI.”

Meta's financial restructuring is reportedly to bolster investments in AI endeavors such as the Meta AI platform and their smart eyewear. They are also reinforcing their development of next-gen AI tools.

Goff Johnson stresses that what she values most in this community upheaval is the shared human experience of exercising together. “We need connections, not more time retreating into tech at home. This platform bridged that gap in a unique way.”

Supernatural introduced a multiplayer feature just over a year ago. Even before its official launch, user communities—self-identified as athletes—had gathered around this service. Members and coaches organized meetings and informal gatherings beyond VR. As layoffs hit, users are collectively grieving the perceived demise of their virtual community, expressing their dismay and urging Meta to reconsider its decision.

Tencia Benavidez from New Mexico began using Supernatural in VR during the pandemic. Residing in a remote area with limited gym access, she calls VR workouts ideal, especially in harsh winters. She stayed with Supernatural for its community spirit and the authenticity of its coaches.

“The coaches felt genuine, like they weren't condescending,” she explains. “There was something truly special about them.”

In 2022, Meta acquired Supernatural, integrating it into its metaverse ambitions. The acquisition sparked a legal dispute, as the FTC opposed it on antitrust grounds, suspecting Meta aimed to dominate the VR market. Eventually, Meta won. Hopeful users anticipated Meta's capital would support Supernatural's success.

“Meta battled legal hurdles to buy this,” Benavidez notes. “Why acquire it only to dismantle it? What's the purpose?”

Efforts to get comments from Meta and Supernatural were unsuccessful.

Facing the Harsh Reality

Earlier this week, reports surfaced of Meta laying off over a thousand employees from its VR and metaverse sectors. These cuts followed years of substantial financial losses in Meta's metaverse investments. Alongside cuts at Supernatural, Meta also shut down three in-house VR game studios.

“If cost was the issue,” Goff Johnson muses, “they could've raised prices. We'd have paid. This seems excessively cruel.”

The community now debates who will retain their subscriptions despite the halted updates and who will leave. Some argue that the extensive library of over 3,000 sessions is ample, while others worry about continued music licensing for the workouts.

“Supernatural is incredible, but I'm canceling because of the situation,” confides Chip. “There's a lot of content, yes, but not at the current price.”

Alternatives like VR’s workout game or classic titles exist, but loyal Supernatural users find them lacking by comparison.

“I’m staying until it’s turned off for good,” insists Stefanie Wong, an accountant from the Bay Area who began using Supernatural post-pandemic and was active in organizing meetups. “It's not just the app itself. It's the communal bond and the trainers we truly value.”

Embracing Change

On Wednesday, I explored Supernatural’s Together feature, post-layoffs. This is where I met Chip and Alisa. As we caught our breath, we conversed about the looming service changes. They reminisced about earlier sessions with celebrity playlists and playlists changing regularly. Our final session was an Imagine Dragons series in multiplayer mode.

As we punched to the beat, coach Dwana Olsen's motivational voice enhanced the session.

“Make these moments count,” Olsen encouraged. “Let these movements remind you of what's left for you to experience.”

The experience was invigorating but tinged with sadness. We concluded another round, exhausted and exhilarated. Chip, Alisa, and I celebrated with virtual high fives, gearing up for the next challenge.

“Beautiful,” Alisa remarked. “It's truly beautiful, isn’t it?”