New Mexico-based Supernatural user Tenasia Benavidez started her VR workouts during the COVID pandemic. She has been a regular user in the five years since, describing the ability to work out in VR as ideal, given that she lives in a rural area where it is difficult to get to a gym or work out outside during the harsh winter. She remained involved with Supernatural due to the curiosity of the community and Supernatural’s trainers.
“They seem like really authentic people who weren’t talking to you,” says Benavidez. “There’s really something special about those coaches.”
Meta purchased Supernatural in 2022 and incorporated it into its then-heavily invested Metaverse efforts. The purchase was not a smooth process, as it triggered a lengthy legal battle in which the US Federal Trade Commission tried to block Meta from purchasing the service due to antitrust concerns about “trying to buy their way to the top” of the VR market. Ultimately Meta won. At the time, some Supernatural users were cautiously optimistic, hoping that a big bag of Zuckerbucks could keep their workout juggernaut going.
“Meta fought the government to buy this thing,” says Benavidez. “This was all just for them to shut it down? What was the point of that?”
I contacted Meta and Supernatural and no one responded to my requests for comment.
waking up to ashes and dust
On Tuesday, Bloomberg reported that Meta has laid off more than 1,000 people from its VR and metaverse efforts. The move comes after years of the company spending billions of dollars on its metaverse products. In addition to laying off most of the staff at Supernatural, Meta has closed down three internal VR studios that created games like resident Evil 4 And deadpool vr.
“If it was a bottom line thing, I think they could have charged more money,” Goff Johnson says of Supernatural. “I think people would have paid for it. It seems unnecessarily heartless.”
There is disagreement in the community over who will stay and continue paying membership fees and who will leave. Supernatural has over 3,000 texts available on the service, so although new content will not be added, some believe there is a lot of content left in the library. Other users are concerned about how Supernatural will continue to license music from big-name bands.
Chip told me, “Supernatural is amazing, but I’m canceling it because of this.” “The library is bigger, so there’s plenty to keep you busy, but not at the same price.”
There are other VR workout experiences like FitXR or even VR Staples hit saberWhich gives rise to a lot of Supernatural’s design concepts. Still, they do not reach the same level for many supernatural faithful.
“I’m going to put it off until they turn the lights out on us,” says Stephanie Wong, a Bay Area accountant. “It’s not the app. It’s the community, and it’s the coaches we really care about.”
Welcome to the new age
I tried out Supernatural’s Together feature on Wednesday, the day after the layoff. That’s where I met Chip and Alissa. When we could stop to catch our breath, we talked about upcoming changes to the service. They played playlists with a mix of past seasons or regularly changing music hosted by Jane Fonda. This was an artist series consisting entirely of Imagine Dragons songs.
In the session, as we moved blocks, mesmerized by this shirtless guy’s humming, Supernatural coach DeWanna Olsen’s recorded narration serenaded us.
“Take advantage of these moments,” Olsen said while we were punching. “Use these activities to remind yourself what an amazing life you still have to live.”
Frankly, it was downright refreshing. And bitter-sweet. We finished another round drenched in sweat, panting and puffing. Chip, Alissa and I high-fived like crazy and got ready for round two.
“Beautiful,” Alisa said. “It’s very beautiful, isn’t it?”
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