Call of Duty Co-Creator Vince Zampella Dies at 55 in Car Crash
Vince Zampella, the visionary co-creator of Call of Duty and founder of Respawn Entertainment, died at 55 following a car crash on December 21, 2025. A titan of the industry, he was the driving force behind Titanfall, Apex Legends, and the Star Wars Jedi series.
Vince Zampella
Vince Zampella, a seminal figure in the video game industry known for co-creating the Call of Duty franchise and founding Respawn Entertainment, has died following a car accident on the Angeles Crest Highway. He was 55.
Electronic Arts (EA) confirmed the news on Monday, calling Zampella a "visionary creator" whose work "helped shape modern interactive entertainment."
The Accident
The fatal crash occurred on Sunday (December 21, 2025) at approximately 12:45 p.m. in the San Gabriel Mountains. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Zampella was driving a Ferrari when the vehicle veered off the roadway for unknown reasons, struck a concrete barrier, and became engulfed in flames CBS News.
Zampella was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the vehicle, who was ejected during the collision, was transported to a hospital but later succumbed to their injuries. Authorities have not yet publicly identified the passenger Al Jazeera.
A Titan of the Industry
Zampella’s career spanned decades and resulted in some of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed first-person shooters in history. His influence began in the early 2000s and continued through his leadership at Respawn Entertainment, a studio acquired by EA in 2017.
Notable Achievements:
- Call of Duty: Co-founded Infinity Ward in 2002 and launched the franchise that would become a global phenomenon.
- Titanfall: Established Respawn Entertainment in 2010 to create this innovative mech-shooter series.
- Apex Legends: Oversaw the surprise launch of the battle royale hit, which remains one of EA's flagship titles.
- Star Wars Jedi Series: Led the team behind the single-player successes Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor The Guardian.
The gaming community and industry leaders have expressed shock and sorrow at the sudden loss.
"Vince’s influence on the video game industry was profound and far-reaching," an EA spokesperson said in a statement. "His legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come" Sky News.
Infinity Ward, the studio Zampella helped build, also paid tribute, stating, "Your legacy of creating iconic, lasting entertainment is immeasurable."
