Ex-Call of Duty Devs Launch First Official Kickboxer Game: Will Jean-Claude Van Damme Appear?

Former developers of the iconic *Call of Duty* series are now embarking on an exciting new venture: creating the first-ever video game based on the renowned Kickboxer martial arts film franchise. Los Angeles-based Force Multiplier Studios is teaming up with Dimitri Logothetis and Rob Hickman, the masterminds behind the recent Kickboxer trilogy reboot, to bring this thrilling project to life.

The original Kickboxer film, released in 1989, starred the legendary Jean-Claude Van Damme and was such a hit that it spawned several sequels. While Van Damme didn't return for *Kickboxer 2*, opting instead for *Double Impact* in 1991, he made a triumphant comeback in the 2016 reboot, *Kickboxer: Vengeance*, alongside Dave Bautista, and its 2018 follow-up, *Kickboxer: Retaliation*. The third film in the reboot trilogy, *Kickboxer: Armageddon*, is set to begin filming this spring.

The upcoming Kickboxer video game, still in its early stages of development, promises to blend the franchise's rich narrative with adrenaline-pumping martial arts action, creating a high-octane brawler. Fans can expect to see iconic characters and locations from the series, originally featuring martial arts legend Jean-Claude Van Damme. When asked if Van Damme would star in the game, Force Multiplier Studios remained tight-lipped, with Brent Friedman, the studio's Chief Creative Officer, 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, a new venture 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*.

Dimitri Logothetis, the writer and director of *Kickboxer: Armageddon*, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "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 has already made a mark with their first game, *Karnivus*, a combat shooter released within *Fortnite*. However, the Kickboxer project seems to be a significant step forward for the team. Jeremy Breslau, the studio's CEO, shared his vision, 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 details are still under wraps, with no screenshots or trailers available yet, fans can look forward to more information later this year. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting new addition to the world of martial arts gaming.