Ex-Call of Duty developers are embarking on an exciting new venture: crafting the first-ever video game inspired by the iconic Kickboxer martial arts film franchise. Force Multiplier Studios, based in Los Angeles, is collaborating with filmmakers Dimitri Logothetis and Rob Hickman, who are behind the recent Kickboxer trilogy reboot, to bring this vision to life.
The original Kickboxer film, released in 1989, starred martial arts legend Jean-Claude Van Damme and was successful enough to spawn several sequels. While Van Damme did not reprise his role for Kickboxer 2, opting instead for 1991's Double Impact, he returned for the 2016 reboot, Kickboxer: Vengeance, alongside Dave Bautista, and its 2018 sequel, Kickboxer: Retaliation. The third installment, Kickboxer: Armageddon, is slated to begin filming this spring.
The upcoming Kickboxer video game is still in its early stages of development. Force Multiplier Studios promises it "will combine the rich narrative of Kickboxer with kinetic martial arts action to deliver an intense, high-octane brawler, and feature iconic characters and locations from the franchise originally starring martial arts icon Jean-Claude Van Damme."
When asked by IGN if Jean-Claude Van Damme would be involved in the game, Force Multiplier Studios remained coy. Brent Friedman, the studio's Chief Creative Officer, expressed enthusiasm: "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 was co-founded by Jeremy Breslau, Brent Friedman, and Charnjit Bansi, who have previously contributed to major titles such as Call of Duty, Borderlands, Halo, Tomb Raider, and Mortal Kombat. Their experience in narrative and design is set to bring a unique flair to the Kickboxer game.
Dimitri Logothetis, the writer and director of Kickboxer: Armageddon, emphasized the cultural impact of the franchise: "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' debut game, Karnivus, was a combat shooter released within Fortnite, but the Kickboxer game represents a significant step forward. Jeremy Breslau, the studio's CEO, shared their ambitions: "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 details are scarce and no screenshots or trailers have been released yet, fans can look forward to more information later this year.
