Former Call of Duty Devs Are Making the First Ever Official Kickboxer Video Game — but Is Jean-Claude Van Damme in It?

Former Call of Duty developers are crafting the inaugural video game based on the iconic Kickboxer martial arts film franchise. Force Multiplier Studios, a Los Angeles-based company, is collaborating with Dimitri Logothetis and Rob Hickman, the creative minds behind the recent Kickboxer trilogy reboot, to bring this game to life.

The original 1989 Kickboxer film, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, spawned numerous sequels. While Van Damme didn't reprise his role in Kickboxer 2, he returned for the 2016 reboot, Kickboxer: Vengeance, alongside Dave Bautista, and its 2018 sequel, Kickboxer: Retaliation. A third installment, Kickboxer: Armageddon, is slated for production this spring.

The Kickboxer video game, currently in its early stages of development, promises a thrilling blend of narrative and action. 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, featuring iconic characters and locations from the franchise originally starring martial arts icon Jean-Claude Van Damme."

While IGN inquired about Van Damme's involvement, Force Multiplier Studios remained tight-lipped. Brent Friedman, 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, co-founded by industry veterans Jeremy Breslau, Brent Friedman, and Charnjit Bansi (with credits on Call of Duty, Borderlands, Halo, Tomb Raider, and Mortal Kombat), aims to deliver a truly innovative experience.

"Kickboxer is more than just a film; it's a cultural phenomenon that has inspired generations of fans and martial artists alike," commented 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."

Force Multiplier Studios previously released a combat shooter, Karnivus, within Fortnite. The Kickboxer game, however, represents a significant advancement for the team. Jeremy Breslau, CEO, 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.”

Further details, including screenshots and a trailer, are expected later this year.