Exciting news for fans of martial arts and gaming alike: former Call of Duty developers are embarking on an ambitious project to create the first-ever video game based on the iconic Kickboxer martial arts film franchise. Force Multiplier Studios, a Los Angeles-based studio, is teaming up with filmmakers Dimitri Logothetis and Rob Hickman, who have been behind the recent rebooted Kickboxer trilogy, to bring this action-packed game to life.
The Kickboxer film series, which began with the 1989 classic starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, has been a staple in martial arts cinema. After the success of the original, the franchise spawned several sequels. Van Damme, who did not return for the sequel Kickboxer 2 but instead starred in Double Impact in 1991, came back for the 2016 reboot, Kickboxer: Vengeance, alongside Dave Bautista. He also appeared in the 2018 follow-up, Kickboxer: Retaliation. The third installment of the rebooted trilogy, 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 deep narrative of the Kickboxer films with dynamic martial arts action, resulting in a high-octane brawler. Fans can look forward to iconic characters and settings from the franchise, which was originally led by martial arts legend Jean-Claude Van Damme.
When asked if Van Damme would be involved in the game, Force Multiplier Studios remained coy. Brent Friedman, the studio's 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 is a new venture co-founded by Jeremy Breslau, Brent Friedman, and Charnjit Bansi, who have previously led narrative and design for renowned titles such as Call of Duty, Borderlands, Halo, Tomb Raider, and Mortal Kombat. Their experience in crafting compelling stories and engaging gameplay bodes well for this new project.
Dimitri Logothetis, the writer and director of Kickboxer: Armageddon, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, 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' first foray into gaming was with Karnivus, a combat shooter released within Fortnite. However, the Kickboxer game represents a significant leap for the team. Jeremy Breslau, CEO of Force Multiplier Studios, shared his vision: "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 such as screenshots and trailers are yet to be revealed, fans can expect more information to be released later this year. The anticipation is building for a game that promises to capture the spirit and excitement of the Kickboxer franchise.
