Kickboxer Game by Ex-Call of Duty Devs: Will Van Damme Star?

Ex-Call of Duty developers are now channeling their expertise into an exciting new project: the first-ever video game inspired by the iconic Kickboxer martial arts film franchise. Los Angeles-based Force Multiplier Studios is teaming up with filmmakers Dimitri Logothetis and Rob Hickman, the masterminds behind the recent Kickboxer trilogy reboot, to bring this vision to life.

The original Kickboxer film, released in 1989, starred martial arts legend Jean-Claude Van Damme and was a massive hit, spawning several sequels. Although Van Damme did not return for Kickboxer 2, 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 installment, Kickboxer: Armageddon, is slated to begin filming this spring.

The Kickboxer video game is currently in its early stages of development. Force Multiplier Studios promises a game that will blend the rich narrative of the Kickboxer series with high-energy martial arts action, creating an intense brawler featuring iconic characters and settings from the franchise originally led by Jean-Claude Van Damme.

When asked about Van Damme's involvement, Force Multiplier Studios remained coy. Brent Friedman, the studio's Chief Creative Officer, stated, "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 major titles such as Call of Duty, Borderlands, Halo, Tomb Raider, and Mortal Kombat. Their first game, Karnivus, was a combat shooter released within Fortnite, but the Kickboxer game represents a significant leap forward for the team.

Dimitri Logothetis, the writer and director of Kickboxer: Armageddon, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "Kickboxer is more than just a film; it's a cultural phenomenon that has inspired generations of fans and martial artists alike. 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, added, "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 we don't have screenshots or a trailer yet, more details are expected to be revealed later this year. Stay tuned for updates on this thrilling new addition to the Kickboxer universe.