Vince Zampella, one of the creators of Call of Duty, has died at the age of 55. Reports say he was killed in a car crash in California.
According to NBC Los Angeles, the accident happened on the Angeles Crest Highway and involved a single vehicle. The crash was reported to the California Highway Patrol at around 12:45 pm on Sunday. The driver died at the scene, while a passenger was taken to the hospital and later died from their injuries. Zampella was identified as one of the victims.
Zampella was best known for his role in shaping some of the most successful video game franchises of the past two decades. He co-founded Infinity Ward in 2002, where he helped create the Call of Duty series. During his time there, he worked on some of the franchise’s most popular titles, including Modern Warfare released in 2007 and Modern Warfare 2 in 2009.
The Call of Duty series went on to become one of the biggest entertainment franchises in history, selling more than 500 million copies worldwide. In 2010, Zampella and other former Infinity Ward staff were involved in a legal dispute with publisher Activision over unpaid royalties.
After leaving Infinity Ward, Zampella founded Respawn Entertainment in 2010 under EA Games. The studio created the Titanfall series and later released Apex Legends, which became one of the most popular multiplayer games globally. His work at Respawn further cemented his reputation as a creative leader in the industry.
Earlier in his career, Zampella also worked on the Medal of Honor series. More recently, he had taken on a leadership role overseeing the Battlefield franchise at EA. Battlefield 6, released in October, received strong reviews and marked another successful chapter in its career.
This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work. Vince’s influence on the video game industry was profound and far-reaching. A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern… https://t.co/af2C4bvsmE
— Electronic Arts (@EA) December 22, 2025
EA Games confirmed his death in a statement released on Monday night, describing it as a devastating loss. The company said Zampella’s influence on the video game industry was deep and long-lasting, and praised him as a visionary creator whose work inspired millions of players and developers around the world.
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Tributes have continued to pour in from across the gaming community, with many crediting Zampella for helping define modern shooter games and changing how players experience interactive entertainment.
