Online dating can be challenging in itself, but it's especially difficult for gamers, many of whom describe themselves as neurodiverse and introverted. Date Like Goblins is an online dating platform that takes its name from “Goblin Mode,” which means being unashamedly true to yourself, and aims to make dating a more casual and fun way.
Set to launch this fall, Date Like Goblins is built for the gaming community, allowing users to connect over voice chat while playing video games. The platform announced a Kickstarter campaign on Wednesday, offering backers the chance to secure early access to the platform and discounted membership rates.
Date Like Goblins is designed to give introverts, people with neurodevelopmental disorders, or on the autism spectrum the opportunity to meet someone in an environment they feel comfortable in, all while playing a game they love. This allows you to go on a virtual date with minimal pressure, after which you can decide whether or not to continue with an in-person date.
Profile page of dating platform Date Like Goblins. Image courtesy of Date Like GoblinsImage courtesy of Date Like Goblins
The beta version of Date Like Goblins, which currently has over 250 testers, is fairly simple. Users who join the platform will experience a simple interface that uses search filters rather than the typical algorithms and swipe models found in apps like Bumble, Hinge, Tinder, etc. Users can filter by preferences such as age, gender, and favorite video games (Final Fantasy XIV, League of Legends, Magic the Gathering, World of Warcraft, Stardew Valley, etc.).
The platform caters to those looking for a date, as well as those seeking friendship or one-off gaming sessions with new players.
Once users find someone they want to talk to, they can invite them to a gaming session. This is done through a Calendly invite, a tool that helps schedule meetings, where users enter their Discord username. On Discord, they can voice chat, exchange gamer IDs, and play games with each other.
For now, the only way to interact with other users is through Discord, although the platform may consider implementing in-app voice functionality in the future.
The dashboard allows users to see all upcoming games, invites, and requests.[空き状況]The tab allows you to adjust the schedule to customize when your match can schedule games and how many days in advance you want to be notified about upcoming games.
Lise Keeney, an avid World of Warcraft player and former spokesperson for Hinge, came up with the idea for Date Like Goblins shortly after her father died of cancer.
“That was definitely a life-changing moment for me, where I asked myself, 'Okay, what am I here to do, and what will make me happy?'” Keaney told TechCrunch.
“I have reflected a lot, [realized] “My purpose in this world has always been to find my person. After I got over my grief, I tried traditional dating apps but it was exhausting — it took so much effort from messaging, matching and going on a first date. So I sat down and thought, 'How can I use the internet to meet people with less pressure and less effort?'” Keaney said.
Date Like Goblins search page. Image courtesy of Date Like GoblinsImage courtesy of Date Like Goblins
Date Like Goblins is betting on a trend that many gamer dating startups (Kippo, GamerDating, Co-Op, LFG Dating) are also following: offering a unique experience to single gamers who are tired of traditional dating apps.
What sets it apart from other competitors is that it offers three different modes: “Normal (Human)”, which includes a profile picture, “Goblin”, which includes no picture, and “Halfling”, a “near-blind” mode where a profile picture is only shown if the person is interested.
Before we explain why Goblin Mode is a problem, dating platforms that don't require selfies have several advantages: they focus on interests and personality, rather than judgement based on appearance, for example, reducing anxiety about being perceived based on appearance and making shy daters more likely to participate in online dating.
Dating apps have done this in the past: S'More (recently acquired by Tawkify), for example, blurred profile photos to encourage more authentic encounters.
The downside of creating a dating platform for neurodiverse, introverted gamers without profile pictures is that it may encourage deceptive behavior where users misrepresent themselves or engage in predatory behavior. Building trust is already difficult for some, so the lack of a profile picture can make it even more difficult to judge someone else's intentions. In general, it is important not to share sensitive or personal information with people you talk to online and always meet in public places.
Keaney claims that he plans to add identity verification to the platform, and according to the company's privacy policy, Date Like Goblins is not intended for users under the age of 18.
“We plan to implement industry-standard profile/user authentication, but also recognize that we will be redefining our users' concept of identity and opting for 100% Goblin Match mode only. We're excited to remove the physical element from online dating (for those interested), but we also need to determine how to authenticate identity without photo-based profiles. This is a fascinating challenge and one I'm really looking forward to tackling,” she said.
There's also still no NSFW filter in place, which could lead to obvious issues like inappropriate messages. Without these safeguards, the platform could be less safe for all users, especially women and LGBTQ+ people who are more likely to be targets of sexual harassment in the gaming community. Female-first dating app Bumble uses AI to automatically blur nude photos in messages between dates.
Date Like Goblins is working on introducing an NSFW filter in the future.
“Until there's an NSFW filter, I'm very keen to avoid any lewd photos coming up, so I manually approve them. But I've been pleasantly surprised at how few lewd photos there are on the site, and I'm really impressed with the people on this platform,” Keaney said.
In addition to the founders manually screening each profile, the platform also has an automated moderation system and a team of human moderators who monitor and review accounts, and users can report profiles they find inappropriate or disrespectful.
“If someone's profile is reported as inappropriate, we will remove it immediately. [down] And then we review it,” Keaney noted.
The platform also plans to introduce several other features to prevent spam, such as pop-up notifications that will appear during dates encouraging users to ask questions.
“I've dated heterosexual, cisgender men, and they [rarely] “Ask your date questions…A lot of our users potentially have autism spectrum disorder, so it allows us to be very strategic about how we behave to educate people,” Keaney said.
Additionally, there will be a button in the chat that users can use to politely end the call if something goes wrong, and users will be asked to provide feedback about the other person after each call.
“Of course we will be thoughtful about banning users, but at the same time we will work with the community to say, 'That behavior is not OK. Let's work together to fix this behavior, but please don't ever do it at the behest of a user,'” she added.
Another feature on the product roadmap includes functionality specifically for polyamorous relationships.
Overall, Date Like Goblins will resonate with many gamers and help provide a familiar environment to explore potential romantic relationships in. By integrating gaming into the dating experience, the platform aims to create a space where individuals can build relationships based on shared interests.
Date Like Goblins offers new subscribers three free dates before charging a subscription fee. The team is still figuring out the exact price, but Keaney says it will be “significantly cheaper than traditional dating apps.” By comparison, Hinge+ costs $34.99 per month.
The Kickstarter campaign ends in 45 days. There are four levels offered:
DTF (Down to Fund): Cost is $10 and you get unlimited access until 2024. FWB (Friends with Benefits): Cost is $30 and you get unlimited access until June 2025. Situationship: Cost is $60 and you get unlimited access until December 2025. Everlasting Goblin: The first 500 backers get lifetime access for $100, which goes up to $120 once that slot is filled.
Backers will have access to the platform from September 30th, with a public launch planned for around November. There's also a waiting list for those interested in joining.