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

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 to the gaming world. This marks the first-ever video game adaptation of the franchise, promising to blend the rich narrative of Kickboxer with thrilling martial arts action into a high-octane brawler experience.

The original Kickboxer film, released in 1989, starred martial arts legend Jean-Claude Van Damme and was successful enough to spawn several sequels. Although Van Damme did not return for Kickboxer 2, opting for 1991's Double Impact, he reprised his role in the 2016 reboot, Kickboxer: Vengeance, alongside Dave Bautista, and in its 2018 sequel, Kickboxer: Retaliation. The third installment, Kickboxer: Armageddon, is scheduled to begin filming this spring.

Currently in early development, the Kickboxer video game aims to feature iconic characters and locations from the franchise, originally starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. While IGN inquired about Van Damme's involvement, Force Multiplier Studios remained coy, with Chief Creative Officer Brent Friedman 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, co-founded by Jeremy Breslau, Brent Friedman, and Charnjit Bansi, brings a wealth of experience from their work on major titles like Call of Duty, Borderlands, Halo, Tomb Raider, and Mortal Kombat. Their first game, a combat shooter named Karnivus, was released within Fortnite, but the Kickboxer game represents a significant step up for the studio.

Dimitri Logothetis, writer and director of Kickboxer: Armageddon, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "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, shared his vision for the game, saying, "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 no screenshots or trailers have been released yet, fans can look forward to more information later this year. The anticipation for this new addition to the Kickboxer franchise is palpable, promising an exciting fusion of cinematic storytelling and interactive gaming.