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

The original Kickboxer film, which hit theaters in 1989, starred martial arts legend Jean-Claude Van Damme and was successful enough to spawn several sequels. Although Van Damme didn’t return for Kickboxer 2, choosing instead to star in 1991’s Double Impact, he reprised his role in the 2016 reboot, Kickboxer: Vengeance, alongside Dave Bautista, and its 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 still in its early stages of development. Force Multiplier Studios promises a game that blends the deep narrative of Kickboxer with dynamic martial arts action, aiming to create an exhilarating, high-energy brawler. It will feature beloved characters and iconic settings from the franchise, originally starring Jean-Claude Van Damme.

When asked about Van Damme’s involvement, the studio remained coy. "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 Jeremy Breslau, Brent Friedman, and Charnjit Bansi, all of whom have a rich history in game development, having contributed to blockbuster titles like Call of Duty, Borderlands, Halo, Tomb Raider, and Mortal Kombat.

Dimitri Logothetis, the writer and director of Kickboxer: Armageddon, expressed his excitement about the project: "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."

While their first game, Karnivus, was a combat shooter released within Fortnite, the Kickboxer game represents a significant step up for the team. “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,” added Jeremy Breslau, CEO of Force Multiplier Studios.

Currently, there are no screenshots or trailers available for the Kickboxer game. Fans should stay tuned for more updates later this year.