Ex-Call of Duty developers are now bringing the iconic Kickboxer martial arts film franchise to the gaming world for the very first time. Los Angeles-based Force Multiplier Studios is collaborating with filmmakers Dimitri Logothetis and Rob Hickman, who spearheaded the recent Kickboxer trilogy reboot, to craft this exciting new video game.
The original Kickboxer movie, released in 1989 and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, was a massive hit that led to several sequels. Although Van Damme did not return for Kickboxer 2, he reprised his role in the 2016 reboot, Kickboxer: Vengeance, alongside Dave Bautista, and in its 2018 sequel, Kickboxer: Retaliation. The third film in the rebooted series, Kickboxer: Armageddon, is slated to start filming this spring.
The Kickboxer video game is currently in early development. According to Force Multiplier Studios, the game "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 about Van Damme's involvement, Force Multiplier Studios remained non-committal. Brent Friedman, Chief Creative Officer, stated, "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, boasts an impressive resume, having led narrative and design on major titles like Call of Duty, Borderlands, Halo, Tomb Raider, and Mortal Kombat.
Dimitri Logothetis, 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 previously released Karnivus, a combat shooter within Fortnite, but the Kickboxer game represents a significant step forward for the team. 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 don't have screenshots or a trailer yet, more information is expected later this year.
