Legacy subscribers to HBO Max will soon have to upgrade their plans or say goodbye to 4K streaming.

When HBO Max was rebranded as simply Max in May, Warner Bros. Discovery said that existing subscribers who already pay for ad-free streaming will have access to certain benefits like 4K streaming for at least the next six months However, that deadline has arrived, and Max is notifying legacy subscribers that after December 5, their only option to keep 4K streaming is to upgrade from a $16/month subscription to Max's Ultimate ad-free tier for $20/month.

The streamer introduced this tier at the same time as a major revamping of Max. Previously, HBO Max's $16/month ad-free tier offered 4K streaming, Dolby Atmos support on select titles, and simultaneous streams on up to three devices. However, with the Ultimate Ad-Free tier, these benefits are now locked behind a new $20/month price tag, and the maximum number of simultaneous streams has been raised to four.

After December 5, legacy users will have to make do with HD quality, just as new subscribers to Max's ad-free tier are limited. They will also lose additional simultaneous streams, as Max's standard ad-free tier only offers two to new members for the same $16/month.

On the other hand, a subscriber's maximum number of downloads will not be affected by this change. Both traditional ad-free customers and new customers will be able to store up to 30 titles on their compatible devices and watch them on the go without a data connection. (Ultimate ad-free subscribers can download up to 100 titles.) And of course, no matter which plan you pay for, all subscribers have access to one of the best streaming service's library of original programming, TV, and movies.

In short, come December 5, you'll be ready to pay the same amount each month but enjoy fewer perks with an ad-free Max subscription. Between this and the service's lackluster November lineup, it may be worth canceling Max this month. If you're looking for ways to cut back on your monthly subscription list, check out our roundup of the best free streaming services.