The One to Watch? Max Users Report Login Errors, App Crashes on First Day of Rollout
Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max ran into technical glitches in its first day of launch on Tuesday, causing many users to gripe on social media about issues the company said were quickly fixed.
DownDetector, a website which monitors outages, notes that around 400 users reported having issues with Max at around 9 am ET.
Everything’s great here. #max pic.twitter.com/PV5tZK0CdV
— Rebecca Stokes (@beccastokes) May 23, 2023
“Everything’s great here,” one Twitter user wrote along with a video of Max opened, flickering and then crashing.
The new Max app picking up right where HBO Max left off pic.twitter.com/6KQI1GpHb5
— Marc Istook (@MarcIstook) May 23, 2023
Another user shared a screenshot of an error message on the Max app, writing “The new Max app picking up right where HBO Max left off.”
Though to its credit the Max app is much faster as it crashes more quickly than ever before. pic.twitter.com/fXBS93egyf
— Marc Istook (@MarcIstook) May 23, 2023
“The HBO Max app experience is easily one of the worst I’ve ever seen from a major media company. And here the Max app seems to top it. Though to its credit the Max app is much faster as it crashes more quickly than ever before,” the user added, sharing a separate video of the app crashing.
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Two users said that they went to the Max website and clicked “start streaming” and nothing happened.
“Literally nothing. It doesn’t even try to load the next page,” one said. “I can’t even feign surprise at this point.”
So HBOMax is now just Max… and I go to the site and click "start streaming" and… nothing happens. Literally nothing. It doesn't even try to load the next page.
I can't even feign surprise at this point.— Council of Geeks (@councilofgeeks) May 23, 2023
“Great production launch. No notes,” another joked.
I keep clicking "Start Streaming" and nothing happens. Great product launch. No notes. pic.twitter.com/V4kFcbEsc2
— Meghan O’Keefe (@megsokay) May 23, 2023
LightShed Partners analyst Rich Greenfield tweeted that he was unable to even login through the app, adding “Maybe too soon?”
Just downloaded new Max app on iOS
- unable to login yet with @StreamOnMax credentials
Maybe too soon? pic.twitter.com/4XLdfPs3d0— Rich Greenfield, LightShed
(@RichLightShed) May 23, 2023
Another user said their firestick wouldn’t update to Max and that they “manually have to find shows.”
“This whole launch has been an unnecessary disaster,” the user said.
People are having login issues while my firestick won't update to Max. It's still #HBOMax, and I have to manually find shows.
This whole launch has been an unnecessary disaster. pic.twitter.com/KaqvjU3qum— Dana Abercrombie #AmplifyBlackVoices (@sagesurge) May 23, 2023
A Warner Bros. Discovery spokesperson told TheWrap that only “minor” issues have emerged thus far and were “quickly remedied.”
“You must always anticipate issues on a tech rollout of this scale,” the spokesperson added.
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The service, which combines the libraries of HBO Max and Discovery+, will allow audiences to explore the worlds of HBO, the DC Universe and ‘Harry Potter‘ — plus movies, and original series with genres like true crime, reality, food and comedy. Max offers three pricing tiers: the $9.99 per month Max Ad-Lite plan, the $15.99 per month Max Ad-Free plan and the $19.99 per month Max Ultimate Ad-Free plan.
Existing HBO Max subscribers will have access to Max at the same price as their current subscription and can access their current plan features for a minimum of six months following its launch. HBO Max subscribers’ profiles, settings, watch history, “Continue Watching” and “My List” items will also migrate to Max, so they can pick up streaming right where they left off.
The relaunch comes as the entertainment giant has been undergoing a major restructuring, which it expects to complete by the end of 2024. WBD estimates the moves, including layoffs and other cost cuts, will result in up to $5.3 billion in restructuring charges before taxes, including up to $3.5 billion in content impairment and development write-offs.
In addition to the combined offering, Discovery+ will continue as its own separate, lower-priced service. The company also plans to launch its own free, ad-supported streaming (FAST) service this year.
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