Meta's decision to lay off hundreds of employees, including those from Supernatural, has sent shockwaves through the VR fitness community. The popular virtual reality workout platform, which offers a unique blend of exercise and entertainment, is no longer receiving updates or new content.
Supernatural was once hailed as one of the best-performing apps in Meta's VR store, and its users had grown to love the sense of community and camaraderie that came with exercising together. However, Meta's decision to prioritize its foray into artificial intelligence over Supernatural has left many feeling heartbroken and betrayed.
Users like Stacey Goff Johnson, who credits Supernatural with helping her lose 100 pounds and improve her blood pressure, are struggling to come to terms with the loss of their beloved platform. "This just feels like a gut punch," she said. "It can't all just be AI, AI, AI."
The sense of community that once brought users together has been replaced by a feeling of despair and uncertainty. Many users are canceling their subscriptions in protest, while others are holding out hope that Supernatural will be revived.
"I'm going to stick it out until they turn the lights out on us," said Stefanie Wong, a Bay Area accountant who has used Supernatural since shortly after the pandemic. "It's not the app. It's the community, and it's the coaches that we really, really care about."
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: Supernatural's users are mourning the loss of a platform that brought them joy and connection in a time when they needed it most.
The decision to prioritize AI over Supernatural has also raised questions about Meta's priorities and commitment to its customers. "If it was a bottom-line thing, I think they could have charged more money," said Goff Johnson. "I think people would have paid for it. This just seems unnecessarily heartless."
As the VR fitness community struggles to come to terms with this new reality, one thing is certain: Supernatural will be deeply missed by those who loved it.
Supernatural was once hailed as one of the best-performing apps in Meta's VR store, and its users had grown to love the sense of community and camaraderie that came with exercising together. However, Meta's decision to prioritize its foray into artificial intelligence over Supernatural has left many feeling heartbroken and betrayed.
Users like Stacey Goff Johnson, who credits Supernatural with helping her lose 100 pounds and improve her blood pressure, are struggling to come to terms with the loss of their beloved platform. "This just feels like a gut punch," she said. "It can't all just be AI, AI, AI."
The sense of community that once brought users together has been replaced by a feeling of despair and uncertainty. Many users are canceling their subscriptions in protest, while others are holding out hope that Supernatural will be revived.
"I'm going to stick it out until they turn the lights out on us," said Stefanie Wong, a Bay Area accountant who has used Supernatural since shortly after the pandemic. "It's not the app. It's the community, and it's the coaches that we really, really care about."
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: Supernatural's users are mourning the loss of a platform that brought them joy and connection in a time when they needed it most.
The decision to prioritize AI over Supernatural has also raised questions about Meta's priorities and commitment to its customers. "If it was a bottom-line thing, I think they could have charged more money," said Goff Johnson. "I think people would have paid for it. This just seems unnecessarily heartless."
As the VR fitness community struggles to come to terms with this new reality, one thing is certain: Supernatural will be deeply missed by those who loved it.
Meta's all about AI now? Like, I get it, tech companies have to evolve, but can't they just, like, care about their users a bit more? 
Supernatural was more than just an app, it was a community and a resource for people who needed support and motivation during the pandemic. And now it's gone? 
The fact that Meta prioritized profits over people is just...
Just sitting around twiddling your thumbs while Meta focuses on its AI plans? 
Not gonna happen.
they had found a sense of community and connection with that app and now its just being left behind by meta 
the fact that people like stacey lost 100 pounds using that app is just heartbreaking 
i mean who needs to make money when you have users who are already loyal? 
meta should've found a way to keep supernatural alive, especially since it was doing so well 
they're basically cutting off their nose to spite their face 
all these people invested time and money into the app, only to have it taken away from them... not cool 
They're basically saying that as long as they can make a quick buck off AI, they don't care about the people and communities they've created on Supernatural 
It's just so inconsiderate. I mean, these people were relying on the platform for their mental health and fitness goals during a pandemic... what even is that? 
They're basically taking away a service that brought people joy and now they're just gonna sit back and collect their AI profits? No thanks 
. If they wanted to make some real money, they should've found a way to keep Supernatural alive. But instead, they chose to cut ties and move on to whatever AI project they're working on now. 
.
Stefanie's right tho, its not the app, its the community & coaches ppl care about 
gotta keep an eye on this situation tho 
u guys rnt alone!! i no u'll find another workout buddy 2 hang out w/ 
there's so many other awesome VR fitness apps 2 choose from lol u just gotta keep on exercising n stay positive 
maybe meta'll change thier mind & bring back supernatural 
we can all hold our breaths 4 that 2 happen tho
... it's the coaches and the sense of belonging that made Supernatural so special, not just some fancy AI tech 
I'm holding out hope they come to their senses and bring back the old Supers, but at this rate, I'm gonna need a miracle 
. i mean, stacey goff johnson lost 100 pounds on that thing, what does she get? a bunch of cancel subscriptions from her friends 
.
** Meta's decision to kill off Supernatural is a huge blow to the VR fitness community 
Those who lost weight or improved their health because of the app will miss out on accountability and support 
. But I think it's also worth considering the bigger picture here. Is Meta really prioritizing AI over its customers' needs and wants? It feels like there's been a bit of a disconnect between what users value and what Meta thinks they want.
. Stefanie Wong is totally right - it's not the app, it's the community and coaches that we care about 
... That's what made Supernatural so special in the first place. The coaches, the friends you make while exercising together, the sense of accomplishment when you crush a workout 
.
. But for now, I'm just going to take a moment to mourn the loss of something special 
how can Meta do this to people?!?! Supernatural was more than just a workout app, it was a community, a family... and now they're just throwing us away like we're nothing? 
the fact that they prioritized AI over something that brought so much joy and connection to people's lives is just heartbreaking 
but at the same time, can't they just move on to something new?