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

Excitement is brewing in the gaming world as former Call of Duty developers at Los Angeles-based Force Multiplier Studios collaborate with filmmakers Dimitri Logothetis and Rob Hickman to bring the iconic Kickboxer martial arts film franchise into the realm of video games. This ambitious project promises to blend the rich narrative of Kickboxer with high-energy martial arts action, aiming to deliver an intense brawler experience featuring beloved characters and settings from the series that originally starred martial arts legend Jean-Claude Van Damme.

The Kickboxer film franchise, which kicked off with Van Damme's starring role in the 1989 original, has seen numerous sequels and a recent reboot trilogy. While Van Damme did not return for the second film, he reprised his role in the 2016 reboot, Kickboxer: Vengeance, and its sequel, Kickboxer: Retaliation, alongside Dave Bautista. The upcoming third installment, Kickboxer: Armageddon, is slated to begin filming this spring.

While still in the early stages of development, Force Multiplier Studios is teasing a game that will capture the essence of Kickboxer's thrilling martial arts action. When asked about Jean-Claude Van Damme's involvement, Brent Friedman, Chief Creative Officer at Force Multiplier Studios, remained coy, 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 is a fresh face in the gaming industry, co-founded by Jeremy Breslau, Brent Friedman, and Charnjit Bansi, who previously contributed to acclaimed titles like Call of Duty, Borderlands, Halo, Tomb Raider, and Mortal Kombat. Their debut game, Karnivus, a combat shooter, was released within Fortnite, showcasing their innovative approach to gaming. Now, they aim to elevate the fighting genre with the Kickboxer game.

Dimitri Logothetis, writer and director of Kickboxer: Armageddon, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, 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, echoed this sentiment, adding, "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."

As anticipation builds, fans will have to wait for more details, as no screenshots or trailers have been released yet. Stay tuned for more information later this year.