Meta Quest's new Twitch app is a disappointment
Amazon has released an update for the Twitch app just in time for Meta Connect 2024. I tried it with the Quest 3.
A number of new 2D streaming apps were announced at Meta Connect 2024: Twitch, Amazon Prime Video, and Amazon Music. Spotify will follow soon.
We already tested the Amazon Prime Video app. It allows you to download videos and watch them later offline.
You can find out how the Twitch app works after the new update on Meta Quest 3 in the following article.
A 2D app as the book says
As soon as you launch the Twitch app, you will immediately notice it: It is a normal 2D app without any special features. Overall, the app offers far less than the browser version of Twitch. One thing I noticed very quickly was the lack of a theater or full-screen mode option. That means it's just a window that you can place anywhere in the room.
The browser version allows you to enlarge the image and curve the screen slightly, making it much more comfortable to watch your favorite stream in a relaxed manner. You can also dim everything outside of the video, which is even more convenient. I really miss all of these features in the Twitch app.
Overall, the interface of the app is well-structured and laid out. New stories can be found at the top, and I can also record and upload my own stories here. As usual, the channels I follow are on the side, and next to them are the shortcuts to the other important functions, such as my dashboard and notifications. But these are all things I can find and use also in the browser interface.
Streaming still not possible
Many users have been asking for the ability to start their livestream directly from within the app. With a mention at Meta Connect 2024, hopes were high that this feature would finally make its way into the Twitch app: Unfortunately, it hasn't.
Even at the time of my testing, it is not possible to go live from your creator dashboard. Where the button should be, there is only a link back to the main page to watch other streams. Since this is probably the most important feature of Twitch, this is a punch in the gut for all users.
For me as a viewer and streamer, the Twitch app currently offers no added value. It's still more valuable to just log in and use the browser, regardless of whether I want to watch content or even create it. Hopefully, the app will be able to match the browser's functionality in the near future.
You can download the Twitch app for free from the Horizon Store.
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