It simply acquired method simpler and extra handy to remotely watch Amazon Prime Video’s TV exhibits and flicks along with your pals. The service’s “Watch Occasion” characteristic has obtained a a lot wanted growth from the restricted use circumstances the place it labored earlier than — on Fireplace TV gadgets, desktop internet browsers, and the Prime Video cellular app — and it now helps non-Amazon streaming gadgets, good TVs, and Xbox / PlayStation gaming consoles. DailyTech first reported on the growth.
Watch Occasion permits for as much as 100 folks with a Prime subscription to view content material on the identical time. The host is ready to play, pause, skip, and quick ahead or rewind for the group, and everybody can chat about what they’re watching.
For now, Amazon’s Watch Occasion characteristic stays obtainable solely within the US. “An error message is displayed if you’re utilizing a VPN,” Amazon notes in its FAQ. Everybody shares entry to content material that’s free to stream with a Prime subscription. However if you wish to watch a film that may solely be rented, everybody should accomplish that individually. Watch Occasion isn’t appropriate with stay occasions (like Thursday Night time Soccer), Amazon Prime Video Channels, or Freevee (previously often called IMDBtv).
Whereas many of those group viewing experiences popped up amid COVID-19 lockdowns, Amazon started testing Watch Occasion in 2019 by way of its Twitch service. Hulu affords an analogous characteristic by the identical title, Disney Plus affords GroupWatch, and streaming TV apps like Sling TV have additionally joined in.