First Official Kickboxer Game by Ex-Call of Duty Devs: Will Jean-Claude Van Damme Be In It?

Ex-Call of Duty developers are venturing into new territory with the creation of the first-ever video game based on the Kickboxer martial arts film franchise. Los Angeles-based Force Multiplier Studios is teaming up with filmmakers Dimitri Logothetis and Rob Hickman, who spearheaded the recent rebooted Kickboxer trilogy, to bring this exciting project to life.

The original Kickboxer film, released in 1989 and starring martial arts legend Jean-Claude Van Damme, was a massive hit that spawned multiple sequels. Although Van Damme did not return for the second installment, opting instead for 1991's Double Impact, he reprised his role in the 2016 reboot, Kickboxer: Vengeance, alongside Dave Bautista, and its 2018 sequel, Kickboxer: Retaliation. The third part of the reboot trilogy, Kickboxer: Armageddon, is slated to begin filming this spring.

Currently in early development, the Kickboxer video game aims to blend the franchise's rich narrative with high-energy martial arts action. Force Multiplier Studios promises an intense, high-octane brawler that will feature iconic characters and settings from the series originally led by Jean-Claude Van Damme. When asked about Van Damme's involvement, the studio remained coy, with Chief Creative Officer Brent Friedman stating, "We're all massive fans of the Kickboxer movies, and we have the licenses to many characters and likenesses from the Kickboxer universe that we're very excited about. We'll have much more to share later in the year."

Force Multiplier Studios was co-founded by Jeremy Breslau, Brent Friedman, and Charnjit Bansi, who have previously worked on renowned titles such as Call of Duty, Borderlands, Halo, Tomb Raider, and Mortal Kombat. Their debut game, Karnivus, a combat shooter released within Fortnite, marks their entry into the gaming world, and the Kickboxer project seems to be a significant step forward for the studio.

"Kickboxer is more than just a film; it's a cultural phenomenon that has inspired generations of fans and martial artists alike," said Dimitri Logothetis, writer and director of Kickboxer: Armageddon. "I'm thrilled to collaborate with the incredible team at Force Multiplier Studios. We're going to create a gaming experience that pays tribute to the original film while introducing exciting new gameplay elements."

Jeremy Breslau, CEO of Force Multiplier Studios, expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating, "Our passion is innovation, and just as we're innovating on Fortnite Creative with our own environmental combat shooter experience Karnivus, we can’t wait to innovate the fighting genre with a dynamic brawler that will empower players to be the best kickboxers in the world, traveling to exotic locales and introducing new environmental combat mechanics to deliver a martial arts experience like never before."

While there are no screenshots or trailers available yet, fans can look forward to more information on this eagerly anticipated game later in the year.