Ex-Call of Duty Devs Craft First Official Kickboxer Game: Will Jean-Claude Van Damme Star?

Excitement is brewing 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 world of video games. The Kickboxer series, which began with the 1989 film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, has since expanded into multiple sequels and a rebooted trilogy, with Van Damme returning for the 2016 reboot, Kickboxer: Vengeance, and its 2018 sequel, Kickboxer: Retaliation. The third installment, Kickboxer: Armageddon, is slated to begin filming this spring.

This logo is all we have for now on the Kickboxer video game.

The upcoming Kickboxer video game, still in its early stages of development, aims to merge the franchise's compelling narrative with adrenaline-pumping martial arts action. Force Multiplier Studios promises an intense, high-octane brawler that will feature iconic characters and settings from the films originally led by martial arts legend Jean-Claude Van Damme. When asked about 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, a fresh development team founded by Jeremy Breslau, Brent Friedman, and Charnjit Bansi, boasts a rich history in game design, having contributed to renowned titles like Call of Duty, Borderlands, Halo, Tomb Raider, and Mortal Kombat. Their enthusiasm for the Kickboxer project shines through as they strive to create a gaming experience that honors the original film while introducing innovative gameplay features.

Dimitri Logothetis, the writer and director of Kickboxer: Armageddon, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, 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 is no stranger to innovation, having previously released Karnivus, a combat shooter within Fortnite. Their ambition for the Kickboxer game is clear: "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," Jeremy Breslau, CEO of Force Multiplier Studios, explained.

While no screenshots or trailers have been released yet, fans can look forward to more information later this year as the project progresses.