Twitch has been testing a new feature called Watch Parties with a select number of creators in October last year. Watch Parties allow creators stream Amazon Prime Video content to viewers on Amazon Prime. In April, Twitch allowed top Twitch live-streamers in the US to host Watch Parties. Now, Watch Parties are available to creators around the globe.
This means that Twitch streamers can now host a Watch Party featuring any title that’s included with a Prime or Prime Video subscription in their region. The streamers’ webcam appears in the video player above Chat so viewers will see them in a thumbnail picture-in-picture in the corner of the screen, reacting as the episode or movie plays on the main screen. Viewers can show their support like they normally would with Bits and Subs, for example.
The move represents yet another way for Amazon to drive people to pay for Prime membership. It also encourages Twitch Partners to connect with their community and make money through a co-viewing experience.
To use the feature, streamers will need to add the Watch Party Quick Action to Stream Manager, and connect Watch Parties with their own Prime or Prime Video account.
Twitch says is working on making Watch Parties viewable on mobile devices and anticipates to roll out that feature in the coming months.
