Twitch Adds Apple SharePlay Support on iPhone and iPad

Last Updated on December 6, 2021 by Anu Joy

If you’re concerned about the looming shutdowns in the wake of the Omicron scare, worry not because Twitch has you covered. The live streaming platform now supports Apple’s SharePlay on iPhone and iPads running iOS 15.1 and iPad OS 15.1.

SharePlay is a nifty feature introduced for FaceTime video calling app, which allows Apple users to engage in shared experiences, such as watching streaming content over a FaceTime call. Apple users can now add Twitch live streaming content to the burgeoning list of FaceTime supported services.

Now, up to 32 iPhone and iPad users can simultaneously join a FaceTime session to watch their favourite Twitch streamers in action. Like any SharePlay session, the entire stream will be synchronised for all participants, with the play/pause controls affecting everyone’s screens.

However, all FaceTime participants are required to log into their own Twitch accounts for this to work. Doing so allows everyone in the SharePlay session to relay chat messages to streamers from their own accounts, while also being able to cheer, follow, and subscribe individually.

This also seems like a great way to introduce your friends to your favourite Twitch streamers.

Speaking of which, individual SharePlay participants can navigate to other Twitch streams, and they will be presented with the option to share the new stream with others. Doing so will allow everyone in the session to switch to the new stream.

Things could get a bit chaotic this way assuming the lack of coordination within the watch party, or even if one of the participants suffers from ADHD. While the latter cannot be helped, the former can be addressed with Shareplay’s integrated chat feature. Additionally, SharePlay users can watch Twitch streams in both portrait as well as landscape orientation.

Ending the SharePlay session requires the Twitch stream to be closed. However, doing so will present you with the option to end the stream only for yourself or for everyone else in the watch party. Except, the latter won’t just abruptly exit the stream for others. This merely desynchronises the playback, and allows remaining viewers to play, pause, and exit the stream without affecting each other.

The only thing missing here is the ability to initiate a SharePlay session on Twitch’s Apple TV app.