Kickboxer Game by Ex-Call of Duty Devs: Will Jean-Claude 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 still in its early stages of development. According to Force Multiplier Studios, it "will combine the rich narrative of Kickboxer with kinetic martial arts action to deliver an intense, high-octane brawler, and feature iconic characters and locations from the franchise originally starring martial arts icon Jean-Claude Van Damme." When asked if Van Damme would be involved, the studio remained coy. Brent Friedman, Chief Creative Officer at Force Multiplier Studios, 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, a new development studio, was co-founded by Jeremy Breslau, Brent Friedman, and Charnjit Bansi, who have previously led narrative and design on major titles like Call of Duty, Borderlands, Halo, Tomb Raider, and Mortal Kombat.

Dimitri Logothetis, 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."

Force Multiplier Studios previously released a combat shooter called Karnivus within Fortnite, but the Kickboxer game represents a significant step up for the team. 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, stay tuned for more information later this year.