Amazon recently started rolling out its new "Watch Party" feature to Prime members based in the U.S., and it is available at no additional cost. This built-in feature debuts during a popular time for co-watching abilities across several streaming services amid a period of lockdown and shelter in place orders, due to COVID-19. For those now looking to start a Prime watch party, here's how.

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Anyone who is a fan of Twitch knows that Amazon is not new to the watch party... party. This feature was originally rolled out on Twitch last spring and offered a small sample of Amazon Prime Video titles available for group viewing. The announcement of the Watch Party feature within Amazon Prime Video itself offers a much broader library of titles to choose from with the option to pick from thousands of third-party titles, as well as Amazon originals. According to Amazon however, titles for rent or purchase are not available for Watch Party viewing at this time.

Related: Amazon Prime Is The Most Valuable Streaming Service According to Study

So what exactly can a Watch Party offer? Simply put, Prime members can stream video content simultaneously while a designated host account has the ability to control all playback functions for the group, synchronized to all participants' screens instantly. Amazon's Watch Party feature can support up to 100 participants (significantly more than other co-watching services) as long as each participant is an Amazon Prime or Prime Video member and based in the United States. In addition to viewing content together, participants can interact using a built in chat feature that offers both text and emojis to share their thoughts or emotions during a given scene. Below is an explanation of how to get your first Watch Party started, the right way.

Setting Up An Amazon Watch Party With Friends

To start a Watch Party, whomever is the host will visit Amazon Prime Video from their desktop and choose a title they'd like to watch. Once the given title is selected, the host then clicks the new Watch Party icon located next to the "trailer" and "+watchlist" buttons. For some television shows, the Watch Party icon is found within the episode list. Next, the host will be brought to the Watch Party page and must choose a chat name. Once they have entered their chosen name, they simply click "create party" and the movie or television show is queued up to start.

On the right side of the screen, the host is given a shareable link, as well as a "share" button. They can then choose to copy the link and distribute it themselves, or use the share button to blast the link out to the desired participants via email, Facebook, or Twitter. Below the share link is the details of the Watch Party, displaying how many participants are present. From this point the host is in complete control and can decide when the show will begin, when to pause, stop, etc. The chat window is also present within the same box on the right of the screen and can be minimized for those who just want to enjoy the stream.

While the process of starting a Watch Party seems fairly simple and its capabilities for participation are vast, there are some limits to this feature as it currently stands. Amazon Watch Party is available for desktop only, and does not include Apple's Safari browser. Other streaming devices such as gaming consoles, Roku, mobile devices and tablets are also not yet supported. Lastly, the requirements of inviting Prime Members based in the U.S. only puts an additional limit on the ability to share a viewing experience. That is not to say that Amazon will not eventually expand on these features and capabilities. Still, the current roll out of Watch Party offers an exciting and socially-focused opportunity for Amazon Prime Members to view an extensive library of content together, while confined to the comfort of their own homes.

More: Hulu Testing Watch Party Feature To View Movies &  Shows With Friends Remotely

Source: Amazon

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