Ex-Call of Duty developers are venturing into new territory with the creation of the first video game based on the iconic Kickboxer martial arts film franchise. Los Angeles-based Force Multiplier Studios is teaming up with filmmakers Dimitri Logothetis and Rob Hickman, who spearheaded the recent Kickboxer trilogy reboot, to bring this exciting project to life.

The original Kickboxer film, released in 1989, starred the legendary Jean-Claude Van Damme and became a massive hit, spawning several sequels. Although Van Damme did not return for the second installment, opting instead for 1991's Double Impact, he reprised his role in the 2016 reboot, Kickboxer: Vengeance, alongside Dave Bautista. He also starred in the 2018 sequel, Kickboxer: Retaliation. The third film in the reboot trilogy, Kickboxer: Armageddon, is slated to begin filming this spring.

The Kickboxer video game is currently in early development. Force Multiplier Studios aims to blend the film's rich narrative with dynamic martial arts action, promising a high-octane brawler experience featuring iconic characters and settings from the franchise that originally starred martial arts legend Jean-Claude Van Damme.

When asked about Van Damme's involvement, Force Multiplier Studios remained cryptic. "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,” said Brent Friedman, Chief Creative Officer at Force Multiplier Studios. “We'll have much more to share later in the year."

Force Multiplier Studios was co-founded by industry veterans Jeremy Breslau, Brent Friedman, and Charnjit Bansi, who have worked on renowned titles such as Call of Duty, Borderlands, Halo, Tomb Raider, and Mortal Kombat. Their first game, a combat shooter named Karnivus, was released within Fortnite, setting the stage for their ambitious Kickboxer project.

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

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 eagerly await more details, including screenshots and a trailer, expect further information on this promising project later this year.