Meta Urges Court to Dismiss FTC Complaint Over VR Fitness App Acquisition
Meta asks a federal court to dismiss the FTC's antitrust complaint regarding its acquisition of the VR fitness app maker Within. The company argues the agency weakened its case by dropping claims that Meta already competes in the VR fitness market.
Meta files a formal request in a California federal court to dismiss the Federal Trade Commission’s complaint regarding its planned acquisition of Within. The target company creates Supernatural, a popular virtual reality app that functions as a rhythm-based workout program. The FTC initially blocks this deal by arguing that Meta already competes in the VR fitness space through its ownership of Beat Saber.
The regulatory landscape shifts after the FTC files a new complaint last week and quietly removes the allegation that Meta and Within currently compete for fitness consumers. Meta seizes on this change to challenge the legal standing of the FTC's case. The company points out that Beat Saber is fundamentally a rhythm game rather than a dedicated fitness app, even if players sometimes sweat while playing it.
In its dismissal request, Meta argues that the FTC relies entirely on speculative "perceived potential competition" rather than actual market rivalry. The company's legal team claims that such generalized fears of possible future competition do not meet the legal standard required to block a vertical merger. If the court agrees with Meta, the tech giant successfully absorbs Within without having to worry about future forced separations.