Former Call of Duty Devs Are Making the First Ever Official Kickboxer Video Game — but Is Jean-Claude Van Damme in It?

Exciting news for fans of martial arts and video games: former developers of the iconic *Call of Duty* series are venturing into new territory with the creation of the first video game based on the *Kickboxer* martial arts film franchise. Los Angeles-based Force Multiplier Studios, in collaboration with filmmakers Dimitri Logothetis and Rob Hickman, who are behind the recent rebooted *Kickboxer* trilogy, are bringing this project to life.

The original *Kickboxer* film, released in 1989 and starring martial arts legend Jean-Claude Van Damme, became a cult classic and spawned numerous sequels. Although Van Damme did not return for *Kickboxer 2*, choosing instead to star in *Double Impact* in 1991, he did reprise his role in the 2016 reboot, *Kickboxer: Vengeance*, alongside Dave Bautista, and its 2018 sequel, *Kickboxer: Retaliation*. The third installment, *Kickboxer: Armageddon*, is scheduled to start filming this spring.

The *Kickboxer* video game is currently in its early stages of development. Force Multiplier Studios promises a game that will blend the rich narrative of the *Kickboxer* films with dynamic martial arts action, creating an intense, high-octane brawler. The game will feature iconic characters and settings from the franchise, originally starring Jean-Claude Van Damme.

When asked about Van Damme's involvement, Force Multiplier Studios remained non-committal. Brent Friedman, Chief Creative Officer at the studio, expressed enthusiasm for the project, 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, 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*. Their first game, *Karnivus*, a combat shooter, was released within *Fortnite*, but the *Kickboxer* game represents a significant step forward for the team.

"*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 don't have screenshots or a trailer yet, more details are expected to be revealed later this year. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting new venture in the world of martial arts gaming.