Who was Vince Zampella? Details explored as ‘Call of Duty’ developer dies in tragic accident

7th Annual Produced By Conference - Day 2 - Source: Getty
Vince Zampella speaks during the 7th Annual Produced By Conference at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California, on May 31, 2015. (Image via Getty/Frederick M. Brown)

Vince Zampella, most known for co-founding several studios that created the world's most famous games, has died at the age of 55.

NBC Los Angeles has reported that the video game developer died on Sunday afternoon in a Ferrari crash on the Angeles Crest Highway in Southern California. He was the head of Respawn Entertainment and the former CEO of Infinity Ward, which is the studio that created the famous Call of Duty franchise.

According to Forbes, Vince Zampella's car was involved in a single-car collision that claimed the lives of two. As of this writing, the identity of the other individual remains unclear, as do the details surrounding the incident.

However, the outlet has reported that the car crashed into a concrete barrier after veering off the road. The passenger was declared dead at the hospital, while the driver died in the car in a fire that broke out. A witness reportedly shared a video of the collision to authorities, involving a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS.


Vince Zampella's life and legacy explored:

Forbes has reported that Vince Zampella's contributions to the video game industry were substantial. He helmed the Modern Warfare Call of Duty era alongside co-creator Jason West.

After being notoriously terminated, he launched his own studio, Respawn Entertainment, in 2010. It created the Titanfall games, which EA later purchased in 2010. It is also known for Apex Legends and STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order.

The late developer was recently tasked with helming the Battlefield video game franchise, which debuted its sixth installment just this year. It is reportedly one of the most successful games of this year. NBC Los Angeles has reported that Vince Zampella was in charge of an EA studio team based in Playa Vista, which created the Battlefield video game franchise.

Geoff Keighley of The Game Awards has since issued a statement that reads:

“Vince cared deeply about doing the right thing. And even while working inside large organizations, he consistently pushed to put players first -- to prioritize the experience, the craft, and the people who played the games. He leaves behind an incredible legacy of work. I’ll miss our dinners and long conversations. And while he created some of the most influential games of our time, I always felt he still had his greatest one ahead of him. It’s heartbreaking that we’ll never get to play it.”

Stay tuned to SoapCentral for more.

Edited by Jenel Treza Albuquerque