Amazon Prime Video Watch Party is here to solve a problem we've been trying to solve for months It solves the problem we've been trying for months: how do we watch shows with friends and family who are far away?

While not the Zoom-ized viewing party we'd hoped for--we have a horror movie group that would love it if Netflix would integrate video chat into the player--Watch Party looks pretty good

Watch Party has a maximum of 100 simultaneous viewers Its main limitation is that it is only available on the desktop version of Amazon Prime Video, so if you want to enjoy Watch Party on the big screen, you'll need to cast your laptop to your TV and get a wireless keyboard

Currently, Amazon Prime Video's Watch Party is rolling out to users across the US, but Tom's Guide has already introduced it; not only can you chat in Watch Party (which appears on the right side of the screen while watching), but if someone needs a break, you can also pause a movie or show You can also pause a movie or program if someone needs a break

The problem, as we discovered while testing this morning, is that only the Watch Party host can control the playback of what you are watching So when my friend Kenneth needs to answer the door to pick up a delivery he ordered, he needs to tell the host that he needs to pause the program in order to make things seamless

This is not the first Prime Video viewing party option; 70 Amazon shows can be streamed on Twitch's viewing party (Twitch is owned by Amazon) There is also Netflix Party (for desktop) and Rave (for mobile co-viewing); if you like YouTube, check out Watch2Gether

Hulu is rolling out a Watch Party option for No Ads subscribers, as is Plex

Remember that this is limited to Amazon originals and movies included in Prime Video memberships; movies available for digital purchase or rental on Amazon are not compatible with Watch Party Watch Party is only compatible with web browsers for now

Only you, the host, can pause, rewind, and fast-forward