Match Group said its Tinder dating app is launching Group Hangouts.

The company said the new Group Hangout feature is billed as a new way to meet people with your friends by your side, "so meeting someone new can feel less like an interview and more like doing something fun together."

Match said early signs suggest the format is resonating with users. In testing across Australia, 40% of Group Hangouts invitations were accepted, an early indicator that users are bringing their friends into the experience. Once groups are formed, the company said, engagement increases significantly: women are 2.2 times more likely to Like a group profile than a traditional one-to-one profile.

The company said it believes social-first formats help foster greater comfort, confidence and engagement among women on Tinder.

Match shares were flat at $40.42 in morning trade.