Recently, Twitch added an update to its official Watch Parties page stating that it will shut down this feature on April 2, 2024, due to low usage. Even though some popular streamers used it, there were seemingly not enough people who took advantage of it for the purple platform to justify keeping it running.
The decision means that Watch Parties joins a pretty long list of features to be binned over the years, including Moments, Soundtrack by Twitch, Amazon Music Extension, and Commenting on VODs. There have also been experiments that never saw the light of day like Super Cheers, Boost Train, and Paid Celebrations.
There was also Reactions, a simple function that allowed viewers to 'react' to the stream every five minutes with one of five prompts: Hype, Funny, Love, Whaaat?, and Oh No! A few of these features may have been tested for longer than others, while many might have left a bigger impression among testers, but they all ended up not going live for one reason or the other.
For those unaware, Watch Parties allowed Amazon Prime subscribers to watch movies and TV shows together with other viewers in a synchronized fashion on their favorite content creators' channels. As Twitch put it, 'communities can come together to watch, react, and discuss any movie or TV show available with their Amazon Prime or Prime Video subscription, directly on the streaming service.'
It was launched in April 2020 and allowed broadcasters to co-watch content from Amazon Prime Video with their viewers in a synchronized manner. Parties offered a unique way to engage with their audience beyond traditional gameplay, as they could provide commentary, host discussions, and create a more interactive viewing experience for movies and TV shows.
Reasons behind shutdown
While the feature had its advocates, particularly popular streamers who leveraged it for watch-alongs and discussions, Twitch cited low usage as the primary reason for shutting it down. Despite initial excitement, it appears a significant portion of the site's user base didn't actively utilize Watch Parties.
This lack of widespread adoption could be attributed to several factors.
- Limited content library: Watch Parties only offered access to a specific selection of Prime Video content, potentially restricting viewers' choices.
- Technical limitations: The feature lacked functionalities common to co-viewing experiences, such as pausing or rewinding for the entire audience.
- Competition: Existing co-watching platforms like Netflix Party and Disney+ GroupWatch might have fulfilled similar needs for viewers.
The shutdown of Watch Parties has garnered mixed reactions from the streaming community. Some content creators who heavily relied on Watch Parties for movie nights and TV show reviews expressed disappointment. The feature fostered a sense of community and interactivity that may be difficult to replicate with other tools.
However, many influencers acknowledged the limitations of Watch Parties and have begun exploring alternative solutions. Discord watch-alongs remain popular, allowing for real-time chat and voice communication while viewers stream content independently.
Third-party browser extensions like Metastream offer similar co-watching functionalities across various streaming platforms.
What this means for viewers
For viewers, the discontinuation of Watch Parties means they'll have to find alternative ways to engage in co-viewing experiences on Twitch. Discord servers and browser extensions remain viable options, although they may not offer the same level of integration as the in-built Watch Party feature.
Future of co-watching on Twitch
While Twitch has shut down Watch Parties, the demand for co-viewing experiences on the platform remains. It's possible that the Amazon-owned site may revisit this concept in the future, potentially with a more robust feature set and wider content library.
However, readers must remember that this move will not affect esports/entertainment watch parties, which remain massively popular, and that only the actual features of the platform will be taken off. Once that happens, streamers and viewers will have to adapt to using alternative tools to maintain a sense of community and shared viewing experiences.