- Industry veteran Vince Zampella dies at age 55
- He was involved in a car accident in Los Angeles on December 21.
- Zampella was best known as the co-creator of the Call of Duty series and co-founder of Respawn Entertainment
Vince Zampella, an industry legend best known for being the co-creator of Call of Duty and co-founder of Respawn Entertainment, died at the age of 55.
According to NBC Los Angeles, Zampella was killed in a single-car crash on December 21. It took place on a road north of Los Angeles, in the San Gabriel Mountains.
“The car traveling south left the roadway, struck a concrete barrier and a passenger was ejected,” the California Highway Patrol said.
“The driver died at the scene and the passenger died at the hospital, authorities told NBC4 Investigates,” the report states.
He has now been confirmed to be the driver of a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS, but the passenger has not been identified at this time.
Zampella co-created the hit film Call of Duty franchise with Jason West in 2003 at their studio Infinity Ward, a series that shaped the first-person shooter (FPS) genre in gaming.
Infinity Ward shared its own statement on X/Twitter following Zampella’s passing, writing: “Rest in peace Vince. As one of the founders of Infinity Ward and Call of Dutyyou will always have a special place in our history.
“Your legacy of creating iconic and enduring entertainment is immeasurable. Our deepest condolences to Vince’s family and loved ones on this terrible tragedy.”
The industry veteran left Infinity Ward in 2010 after a dispute with Activision. He and West co-founded Respawn that same year, a studio that developed Fall of the Titans And Titanfall 2, Apex Legends, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen OrderAnd Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
We are heartbroken by the passing of our founder and dear friend Vince Zampella. Vince was a titan and legend of this industry, a visionary leader and force who shaped teams and games like Call of Duty, Titanfall, Apex Legends, the Star Wars Jedi series and Battlefield for our… pic.twitter.com/L51gG9tbRoDecember 22, 2025
“We are heartbroken by the passing of our founder and dear friend Vince Zampella,” Repawn said on X/Twitter. “Vince was a titan and legend of this industry, a visionary leader and a force who shaped teams and games like Call of Duty, Fall of the Titans, Apex LegendsTHE Star Wars Jedi series and Battlefield for our community in a way that will be felt for generations.
“His impact extended far beyond any single game or studio. We will remember Vince for the way he showed up every day, trusting his teams, encouraging bold ideas, and believing in Respawn and Battlefield. Most importantly, he stood up for what he believed was right for the people behind these studios and our players because it mattered. We will miss him very much. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and all those who love him.”
Before his death, Zampella was executive vice president of EA, overseeing the Battlefield series. EA also provided a statement to Kotaku.
“This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts go out to Vince’s family, loved ones, and all those who have been touched by his work. Vince’s influence on the video game industry has been profound and far-reaching,” the statement read.
“Friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of gamers and developers around the world. His legacy will continue to shape the way games are made and gamers connect for generations to come.”
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