"Ex-Call of Duty Devs Launch First Official Kickboxer Game: Will Van Damme Star?"

Former developers from the acclaimed *Call of Duty* series are diving into a new venture with the creation of the first video game inspired by the iconic *Kickboxer* martial arts film franchise. Force Multiplier Studios, based in Los Angeles, is teaming up with filmmakers Dimitri Logothetis and Rob Hickman, who spearheaded the recent reboot of the *Kickboxer* trilogy, to bring this project to life.

The *Kickboxer* film series, which kicked off in 1989 with Jean-Claude Van Damme in the lead, has since become a beloved franchise, spawning numerous sequels. Although Van Damme did not return for *Kickboxer 2*, opting instead for *Double Impact* in 1991, he made a comeback in the 2016 reboot *Kickboxer: Vengeance*, alongside Dave Bautista, and the 2018 sequel *Kickboxer: Retaliation*. The next installment, *Kickboxer: Armageddon*, is slated to begin filming this spring.

While the *Kickboxer* video game is still in its early stages of development, Force Multiplier Studios promises a blend of the franchise's rich storytelling and high-energy martial arts action. The game aims to be an intense brawler, featuring iconic characters and settings from the original films starring Jean-Claude Van Damme.

When asked about Van Damme's involvement, Brent Friedman, Chief Creative Officer at Force Multiplier Studios, remained non-committal but enthusiastic. "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," he stated, hinting at more details to come later this year.

Force Multiplier Studios was co-founded by Jeremy Breslau, Brent Friedman, and Charnjit Bansi, who have previously led narrative and design for 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* project marks a significant step forward for the studio.

Dimitri Logothetis, the writer and director of *Kickboxer: Armageddon*, expressed his excitement about the collaboration. "Kickboxer is more than just a film; it's a cultural phenomenon that has inspired generations of fans and martial artists alike," he said. "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, shared his vision for the game, emphasizing innovation. "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," he added.

While no screenshots or trailers have been released yet, fans can anticipate more information later this year as the project progresses.