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Most people — in any demographic — know about Tinder. It’s unavoidable. Its parent company Match Group, also operates some of the most popular and specialized dating apps on the market, such as Match (of course), Hinge, and The League.

Match Group’s new venture, Archer, is celebrating its nationwide launch this month after seeing early success in New York and Los Angeles. To commemorate the occasion, Archer hosted launch parties and stunts at popular gay bars across the country.

Oddly, although the parent company is based in Dallas and Austin has one of the country’s most active LGBTQIA scenes, there was no Austin launch party. But local users will still be able to download the app.

The app timed its nationwide launch with National Coming Out Day on November 11, hosting a “stunt” in Washington Square Park in New York City, as well as parties at local bars in major cities like Miami, New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The parties were not just to celebrate the launch, but “the stories of queer men all over the country,” says Michael Kaye, Archer’s Director of Brand Marketing and Communications.

Unlike traditional one-on-one dating apps, Archer is designed to foster a social environment. The app sets itself apart as a “social-first” experience, allowing users more freedom to express themselves through photos, messaging, and connecting without preset labels.

“Archer allows users to express themselves better through photo-centric, feed-style profiles, various feed and grid view options, group messaging and no pre-set labels — combining a social media experience with a dating app to create community-building opportunities,” says Kaye.

The app also enables users to directly message anyone without waiting for a mutual match. According to Kaye, this feature “was intended to create a more open community.”

“Archer felt that users shouldn’t have to wait to shoot their shot,” he adds. “Because users can freely give and receive messages, connections on Archer are intentional and genuine.”

To maintain an inclusive environment, Archer requires verified selfies for profiles, and every profile’s photo collection needs to start with a face photo. The app also recently launched an in-app Health Hub with resources around mental health, sexual health, and more.

Since launching in New York and Los Angeles, Archer has seen enthusiastic adoption, especially among millennials and Gen Z. Kaye shared that “62% of people on Archer are 35 years old and younger,” indicating strong appeal among younger demographics.

With its nationwide launch, Archer brings a fresh approach to LGBTQ+ dating focused on community and self-expression. If the excited response is any indication, this innovative “social-first” app seems ready to make its mark on the queer dating scene.

More information about Archer is available at archerapp.com.