What's Happening?
Supernatural, a VR fitness service originally created by Within, is set to return under a new independent company named Supernatural Health. This transition follows Meta's decision to halt development of the service earlier this year. The original founders,
Chris Milk and Aaron Koblin, along with returning coaches, are leading the revival. The new version of Supernatural will launch on Quest this fall, maintaining the same coaches, DNA, and mission as the original service. The existing Meta-operated version will remain available until December 3, 2026. The transition involves creating new accounts and a new privacy policy, with efforts to preserve user history such as streaks and workout records.
Why It's Important?
The revival of Supernatural under an independent company is significant for the VR fitness industry, as it represents a shift from Meta's typical approach of retiring VR services. Supernatural has been a successful consumer product in VR fitness, known for its subscription model and strong engagement. The return of the original coaches addresses subscriber concerns about the platform's identity and community. The transition also highlights challenges such as music licensing and account migration, which are crucial for maintaining user satisfaction and continuity. The increased pricing aims to support sustainable operations, including employee salaries and music licensing.
What's Next?
Supernatural Health plans to share more details about account migration, signup procedures, and the launch timeline in the coming months. Users will need to create new accounts, and the company is exploring ways to preserve user history. The service will return to its pre-Meta pricing, with discounts for Founding Members. The company is working to include as much of the original music catalog as possible while expanding its library. The transition marks a unique outcome for a Meta-owned VR property, as Meta has historically retired services rather than transferring them to new ownership.
