The video game world is mourning the loss of Vince Zampella, a foundational figure whose work helped shape modern shooters and blockbuster franchises.
According to NBC Los Angeles, Zampella, best known for his role in building Call of Duty into a global phenomenon, died on Sunday, December 21, at age 55 after a crash in Southern California.
Zampella’s influence on gaming stretched across decades. He co-founded Infinity Ward in the early 2000s. He served as a creative force behind several of the franchise’s most influential releases, including Call of Duty 2, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and Modern Warfare 2.
After departing Infinity Ward, Zampella went on to co-found Respawn Entertainment in 2010. The studio quickly established itself as a creative heavyweight, launching original franchises such as Titanfall and Apex Legends, as well as critically acclaimed titles including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Respawn was acquired by Electronic Arts in 2017, further cementing Zampella’s role as a prominent industry leader.
Beyond Respawn, Zampella also took on a leadership role overseeing EA’s Los Angeles-based teams, including stewardship of the Battlefield franchise through Ripple Effect Studios.
According to the official police report obtained by the outlet, authorities say Zampella died following a single-vehicle crash that occurred around 12:45 p.m. Sunday on Angeles Crest Highway, a winding mountain road north of Los Angeles.
The California Highway Patrol confirmed that a southbound vehicle veered off the roadway, struck a concrete barrier, and caught fire. The driver, later identified as Zampella, was pronounced dead at the scene, while a passenger was ejected from the vehicle and later died at a hospital.
Investigators have not yet released details about what caused the crash. The outlet contacted representatives for Zampella’s family, Respawn Entertainment, and Electronic Arts for comment, but no comment was available from the parties as of press time.