Vince Zampella, Call of Duty co‑creator, dies in car crash

Vince Zampella, co-creator of the Call of Duty gaming franchise, has died in a car crash involving a Ferrari crash on Monday in Los Angeles, United States.

Both occupants of the vehicle were killed in the crash on Crest Highway north of Los Angeles. It is not yet known whether Zampella was driving. Electronic Arts, owner of Respawn Entertainment, confirmed his death.

The incident occurred around 12:45 p.m. local time on Angeles Crest Highway and involved a hybrid 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS capable of over 819 horsepower.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the passenger was ejected while Zampella remained trapped as the car caught fire. The passenger later died in hospital, though their identity has not been released.

Zampella, 55, was a pioneering figure in modern interactive entertainment through his work at Infinity Ward and Respawn Entertainment.

He co-created Call of Duty with long-time collaborators Jason West and Grant Collier, and served as CEO of Infinity Ward.

Since its 2003 debut as a World War II first-person shooter, the franchise has sold over 500 million copies worldwide and continues to be a major pillar of the video game industry, with a live-action film currently in production.

Beyond Call of Duty, Zampella led Respawn Entertainment in developing critically acclaimed titles such as Titanfall, Apex Legends, and the Star Wars Jedi series, solidifying his reputation as an innovator in both narrative-driven and competitive gaming. He also oversaw an EA studio team that contributed to the Battlefield franchise.

Zampella’s passing leaves a profound mark on the gaming world, influencing not only the franchises he helped build but also generations of players and developers inspired by his vision.

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