Vince Zampella, the visionary developer who created the billion dollar Call of Duty franchise and led the studios behind major hits such as Apex Legends And Star Wars Jedi was killed in a single-car accident.
The incident occurred on Sunday, December 21 around 12:45 p.m. (local time) on the winding Angeles Crest Highway, north of Los Angeles.
He was 55 years old.
The California Highway Patrol confirmed that the southbound 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS left the road, then struck a concrete barrier and was destroyed by fire.
The driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident while the passenger (who ejected) was taken to hospital.
However, it is not confirmed which of them is Zampella.
Zampella was an icon of the modern gaming industry. As co-founder and former CEO of Infinity Ward, he played a phenomenal role in launching Call of Duty series in 2003, ushering in a new era of the military shooter genre.
After a historic departure from Activision, he co-founded Respawn Entertainment in 2010, which he led until its acquisition by Electronic Arts (EA) in 2017.
Under his supervision, Respawn developed acclaimed titles including Fall of the Titans, Apex LegendsAnd Star Wars Jedi series.
In 2021, his role expanded when EA placed him in charge of the entire Battlefield franchise, where he was credited with leading its recent successful revival.
News of his car accident sent shockwaves through the gaming industry, with tributes pouring in from colleagues and fans.
Details of the incidents are still under investigation.
