Snapchat users in the US can now watch select episodes of HBO Max programs for free with a new Snap Mini.
Accessible via a keyboard tab and designed to work virtually with friends, the HBO Max Mini offers pilot episodes of popular titles like Euphoria, The Flight Attendant, Game of Thrones, Lovecraft County, and the 2021 Gossip Girl reboot. To join a watch group, simply search for the HBO Max Mini experience or tap the rocket icon in Chat. Users are required to enter their birthdate to access age-appropriate content; it’s unclear which shows are available to which age groups.
It’s possible to invite up to 63 other Snapchat users to your viewing party, then sit back and watch a synchronized chapter of Craftopia, Genera+ion, Love Life, Selena + Chef, Titans, or Warrior. A built-in chat function makes it easy to share thoughts and Bitmoji reactions throughout the show. After each episode, HBO presents users (18 and older) with the option to subscribe, continue watching the series, and explore the entire digital catalog.
“We believe humans value recommendations that come from other humans,” Sarah Lyons, executive vice president of DTC Global Product Management at HBO Max, said in a statement. “So having the opportunity for friends to suggest, and then subsequently watch content together paves the way for more meaningful discovery.”
Additional launch shows include Looney Tunes, World of Calm, and Betty (season 2, episode 1). Titles will be refreshed on an “ongoing basis,” according to HBO. Snapchat introduced Minis in June 2020 as a way of achieving small, often forgettable tasks; it’s a one-stop shop for booking movie and music gig tickets, signing up to vote, studying a new language, or doing calming breathing exercises.
