Super Best Friends Play
Super Best Friends Play | |||||||
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Personal information | |||||||
Origin | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | ||||||
Occupation | YouTubers | ||||||
YouTube information | |||||||
Channels | TheSw1tcher | ||||||
Created by |
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Presented by |
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Years active | 2011–2018 | ||||||
Genres | |||||||
Subscribers | 710 thousand | ||||||
Total views | 737 million | ||||||
Machinima (former) | |||||||
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Last updated: June 5, 2024 |
Super Best Friends Play, initially known as Two Best Friends Play, was a Canadian YouTube channel and ensemble known for their Let's Play videos. The channel was originally created by Matthew Kowalewski and Patrick Boivin as a series on the now-defunct gaming network Machinima, based around the idea of two friends arguing while playing video games. Hosted on the separate account TheSw1tcher, the group's content focused on both popular and obscure games, and the series later included members Woolie Madden and Liam Allen-Miller.
On December 16, 2018, the group uploaded their final video announcing their breakup. Their dissolution was attributed to Kowalewski and Boivin no longer being friends, and each member continued making content individually. Following the disbandment, the series sustained a dedicated cult following with an active fanbase on social media sites. Super Best Friends Play was among the most popular Let's Play channels on YouTube, and was noted for popularizing various obscure games.
Origins and content
Super Best Friends Play was started in 2011 by
Super Best Friends Play primarily uploaded long-form Let's Play videos on their main channel "TheSw1tcher". The duo's dynamic revolved around Kowalewski playing the innocent straight man to Boivin's angrier nerdy persona.
Breakup and responses
External video | |
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![]() The final video uploaded on TheSw1tcher on December 16, 2018 |
On Sunday, December 16, 2018, a video titled "Super Best Friends (FINAL)" was uploaded to their channel. In the video, Madden, Kowalewski and Boivin appeared in separate segments to explain their decision to disband the group. Madden stated that "Matt and Pat are no longer friends", and attributed business aspects to the deterioration of Kowalewski and Boivin's friendship.[4][7][8] Each member specified that they would focus on their individual content following their disbandment. Madden would continue making traditional Let's Play videos on his channel "Woolie Versus," alongside creating video essays and a podcast called "Woolie Will Figure it Out."[4][9] Kowalewski would also create video game and film reviews on his channel "Matt McMuscles", along with working on the beat 'em up fighting game The TakeOver.[4] Boivin would focus on live streaming games on Twitch.[4] Their channel would remain inactive as an archive for their past videos.[7] The final Let's Play series they had uploaded was Kingdom Hearts.[5]
Considered an unexpected announcement, their dissolution led to numerous reactions across social media.[3][5] Fans expressed feelings of shock on the official Super Best Friends subreddit, which then had over 50,000 members.[3] On Twitter, "SuperBestFriends" trended with thousands of fans posting their appreciation for the group.[7] Various theories emerged about their breakup amongst the community. Several fans had speculated that the final video was a joke, while other fans pointed out growing tensions between Kowalewski and Boivin in the weeks leading to the announcement.[3][5] Outlets such as Newsweek and Bleeding Cool claimed that the channel's dissolution reflected an inevitable aspect of content creation as a transition from a hobby to a business.[7][8] As of 2024, the announcement is their most-viewed video with over 1.7 million views.[‡ 2]
Reception and impact
Super Best Friends Play were among the most popular Let's Play channels on YouTube prior to their dissolution.
Despite the channel's inactivity, their fan community continues to remain active. A 2021 Inverse article noted their fanbase's sustained activity in the aftermath of their breakup. The Super Best Friends subreddit grew to over 80,000 members by 2021, and their Discord server reached over 3,000 members. The COVID-19 pandemic and the open nature of the community were considered factors for its activity, as members continually shared memes of the group. Writer Steven T. Wright commented: "In our increasingly online world — an existing trend super-accelerated by the ongoing pandemic — communities of a certain size eventually take on a mind of their own, even when separated from the original impetus for their creation."[3]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f O'Mara, Matthew (February 5, 2014). "How Machinima and YouTube helped Montreal's 'Matt and Pat' live the gamer's dream". Financial Post. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Khan, Imran (December 17, 2018). "YouTube Let's Play Group Super Best Friends Abruptly Disbands". Game Informer. Archived from the original on December 19, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Wright, Steven T. (February 11, 2021). "Super Best Friends' breakup could've destroyed their gaming community. Instead, it only grew stronger". Inverse. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Boudreau, Ian (December 16, 2018). "Super Best Friends Play comes to an end as creators go their separate ways". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Flores, Natalie (December 17, 2018). "Popular Let's Play Channel Super Best Friends Suddenly Disbands". Paste. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ a b Gach, Ethan (August 26, 2017). "Horror Fighting Game People Thought Didn't Exist Finally Surfaces [Update]". Kotaku. Archived from the original on August 27, 2017. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Asarch, Steven (December 17, 2018). "YouTube Channel Super Best Friends Ends Over Creator Disputes". Newsweek. Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ a b Sheehan, Gavin (December 16, 2018). "YouTube Channel "Super Best Friends" Ending After Internal Issues". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ Park, Gene (May 3, 2019). "Once 'a new art form,' Let's Play videos are facing a glut". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ a b Scott-Jones, Richard (June 8, 2018). "Looks like FromSoftware's cult hit Metal Wolf Chaos is at E3, somehow". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on June 10, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ Plunkett, Luke (June 23, 2011). "Duke Nukem Forever Seems More Fun With a Friend". Kotaku. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- Mic. Archivedfrom the original on February 6, 2017. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
Primary sources
- ^ Brandon, Stephanie (September 7, 2016). "Interview With Super Best Friends". Girls on Games. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ TheSw1tcher (December 16, 2018). Super Best Friends (FINAL). Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024 – via YouTube.
{{cite AV media}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Super Best Friends Play's YouTube Stats". Social Blade. Archived from the original on May 24, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
External links
- Super Best Friends Play's channel on YouTube
- Super Best Friends Play at IMDb