Vince Zampella, the co-creator of the blockbuster video game franchise «Call of Duty,» died after a single-car accident near Los Angeles. He was 55.
The crash involved a Ferrari on Angeles Crest Highway in Southern California on Sunday afternoon. The vehicle struck a concrete barrier while travelling south in the San Gabriel Mountains and caught fire. Zampella was pronounced dead at the scene, while a passenger who was ejected from the car later died in hospital.
«This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones and all those touched by his work,» Electronic Arts (EA) said in a statement.
The company described Zampella as a friend, leader and visionary whose influence helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers worldwide.
Early career
Zampella co-founded Infinity Ward in 2002 with Jason West and Grant Collier, leading the studio behind the launch of «Call of Duty» in 2003. Under his leadership, Infinity Ward released four titles in the series, including the hugely successful «Modern Warfare.»
After parting ways with Activision, Infinity Ward’s parent company, Zampella went on to co-found Respawn Entertainment in 2010. The studio later produced major hits such as «Titanfall,» «Apex Legends» and the «Star Wars Jedi» series before being acquired by EA. In 2021, EA appointed Zampella to oversee the «Battlefield» franchise.
Zampella began his career at publisher GameTek before meeting West at SegaSoft. The pair previously worked as lead designers on «Medal of Honor: Allied Assault,» a World War II shooter co-written by filmmaker Steven Spielberg.
«Call of Duty» has since become one of the most successful video game franchises in history, ranking third in global sales behind «Mario» and «Tetris.» The series has sold more than 500 mln copies worldwide and generated over $30 bn in revenue.
