Call of Duty Creator Vince Zampella Dies
Vince Zampella, the influential video game developer best known as a co-creator of the Call of Duty franchise, has died following a fatal car crash in Southern California. He was 55.
The Vince Zampella death occurred Sunday afternoon after a single-vehicle accident on the Angeles Crest Highway, a winding mountain road that runs through the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles. Authorities confirmed that two people were killed in the crash, including Zampella.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the crash was reported at approximately 12:45 p.m. The vehicle, a red Ferrari 296 GTS, was traveling southbound when it veered off the roadway just after exiting a tunnel. The car struck a concrete barrier and became engulfed in flames.
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Officials said one passenger was ejected from the vehicle and later died at a hospital. The driver was trapped inside the burning car and was pronounced dead at the scene. Law enforcement has not yet released the identity of the passenger, and authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances that led to the crash.
A witness provided video footage to investigators that shows the Ferrari slamming into the barrier moments after exiting the tunnel. No additional vehicles were involved in the incident.
The Ferrari involved in the crash is a high-performance, mid-engine sports car powered by a hybrid twin-turbo V-6 engine capable of producing more than 819 horsepower. Investigators have not indicated whether speed or mechanical issues were factors.
Electronic Arts, the parent company of Respawn Entertainment, confirmed Zampella’s death in a statement. The company described the loss as devastating for the global gaming community.
“This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work,” an EA spokesperson said. “Vince’s influence on the video game industry was profound and far-reaching.”
Zampella was widely regarded as one of the most important creative forces in modern video game history. He co-created Call of Duty in 2003 alongside longtime collaborators Jason West and Grant Collier. Originally inspired by World War II, the franchise grew into one of the best-selling entertainment properties of all time, selling more than 500 million copies worldwide.
During his tenure as CEO of Infinity Ward, the studio behind Call of Duty, Zampella helped define the modern first-person shooter genre. The series later expanded into contemporary and futuristic warfare settings and spawned a live-action film adaptation currently in development.
In 2010, Zampella co-founded Respawn Entertainment, a game studio based in Chatsworth, California. The studio was acquired by Electronic Arts in 2017 and went on to release critically acclaimed titles including Titanfall, Titanfall 2, Apex Legends, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Respawn’s games were praised for their storytelling, innovative mechanics, and strong player engagement. Industry observers often credited Zampella’s leadership style for fostering creative freedom within development teams.
Zampella also led an EA studio group in Playa Vista that worked on the Battlefield franchise, positioning it as a major competitor to Call of Duty in the shooter market.
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Following the news of the Vince Zampella death, tributes poured in from across the video game industry.
Washington Post video game critic Gene Park described Zampella as a creator who understood how to connect emotionally with players.
“He really knew how to create stories and experiences that hit at the heart of the human experience,” Park said. “He was also an incredibly humble person who never took his impact for granted.”
Keza MacDonald, video games editor at The Guardian, echoed those sentiments during an interview with the BBC, saying Zampella cared deeply about how players felt when playing his games.
Geoff Keighley, a prominent video game journalist and co-creator of The Game Awards, said Zampella had a rare ability to identify talent and empower creative teams.
“Vince was an extraordinary person — a gamer at heart and a visionary executive,” Keighley wrote on social media. “His legacy will live on through the games he helped create.”
Infinity Ward also issued a statement honoring its former leader, saying Zampella would “always have a special place” in the studio’s history.
Authorities have not yet released further details about the cause of the crash. The California Highway Patrol said the investigation remains ongoing.
Zampella’s sudden death marks a significant loss for the global gaming industry. His work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and influenced generations of developers and players around the world.
