HBO Max is now just Max, but the transition has not been seamless for users, and the new brand name is, quite frankly, halfwitted (to put it mildly). Thus, users have taken to social media to express their frustrations.
HBO Max has officially launched its rebranded streaming platform — Max, which includes select Discovery+ content on top of its library of Warner Bros. Films, DC Universe movies, the Harry Potter franchise, and more. Yet, the launch didn’t go off without a hiccup or two, as users experienced login problems and various technical difficulties. Twitter quickly became a hub to complain about and chastise the platform’s sloppy transition (as well as the overall choice to rebrand to such nondescriptive nomenclature).
Some users refuse to accept the change
Its mama named it HBO Max, I’ma call it HBO Max. pic.twitter.com/JipoDBimS8
— Cojo (@CortneyJohnelle) May 23, 2023
I still call it "ABC Family." I'm calling it "HBO Max" forever.
— Rohita Kadambi (@RohitaKadambi) May 23, 2023
If there’s work involved, I’m out
Wait a second you have to manually DOWNLOAD a whole different APP to transition from HBOMax to MAX??? pic.twitter.com/gUcE9W16MD
— Tom Zohar (@TomZohar) May 23, 2023
I've got to download a whole 'nother app to go from HBO Max to just Max?? Ya'll just can't flip a switch?? pic.twitter.com/oq6ru99X43
— Gerri Kellman's Personal Reputation Manager (@ForgeCarter) May 23, 2023
“HBO Max won’t update, you have to download a new app for Max”
Me: pic.twitter.com/tcDSd7jcJa
— Sopranos World (@SopranosWorld) May 24, 2023
Tech problems right out of the gate
well… they killed HBOMax and the new app doesn’t even let you sign in 😭 what a joke pic.twitter.com/aHJ883lWmT
— Eljohn Macaranas (@EljohnMacaranas) May 23, 2023
Imagine if other brands made such a foolish choice…
In honor of HBO Max rebranding to Max, I made these designs for other brands pic.twitter.com/H6RYQB61MZ
— Eric Zhu (@ericzhu105) May 23, 2023
Peacock got in on the joke
I know you’re all very disappointed, but I will *not* be dropping the first half of my name any time soon 👀
— Peacock (@peacock) May 23, 2023
Dictionary.com took a page out of Peacock’s playbook
Yes, HBO Max is dropping "HBO" from their name, and no, we are not dropping "tionary" from our name.
— Dictionary.com (@Dictionarycom) May 23, 2023
And so did the State of New York
Inspired by HBO MAX rebranding to MAX, we’ll now be known as STATE pic.twitter.com/FRh05MZ4ha
— State of New York (@NYGov) May 23, 2023
You can’t erase tangible evidence
when are they coming to change the hbomax button on my remote control to just max pic.twitter.com/GKGRtBBBY4
— e (@disasterp1ants) May 23, 2023
Max still needs to let people know it’s HBO
You can tell MAX was a good branding move, because they've had to keep HBO in the app's name to let people know what the heck it is.
I would humbly suggest "HBO Max" is cleaner branding than "Max: Stream HBO, TV, & Movies" pic.twitter.com/AamLSMXeqN
— Jonathan Lack (@JonathanLack) May 23, 2023
We’ll never forget you, HBO Max
#HBOMAX: bigger than the whole sky pic.twitter.com/Y5oTNhEFi9
— hailey 🐝💜 (@nobodynoswift) May 23, 2023
While Max is now home to more streaming options, much of the Discovery+ content does not align with the content HBO has been celebrated for across decades. Thus, the combination doesn’t quite seem like a brand match. Not to mention, the name ‘Max’ is utterly senseless, and the need to download a new app is a hassle (that seems like it should have been avoidable). So, here’s to head honchos making decisions that annoy their primary demographic.
