Vince Zampella, best known as the co-creator of the Call of Duty franchise, has died in a single-car accident near Los Angeles, NBC Los Angeles confirms. He was 55.
The industry veteran was involved in a crash reported at about 12.45pm along the scenic stretch of San Gabriel Mountain on Sunday, where the vehicle, a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS, hit a concrete barrier after veering off the path. The driver, later identified as Zampella, was trapped in the ensuing car fire and died at the scene, while the yet-to-be-identified passenger was ejected and later passed away at a hospital.
“This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work,” said EA in a statement. “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 interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world. His legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come.”
Alongside Jason West, Zampella founded video game studio Infinity Ward after serving as lead designer for EA’s Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, a first-person military shooter set during World War II, with Steven Spielberg as a co-writer. The stint led to the development of the hugely successful Call of Duty series in 2003; following a high-profile lawsuit against Activision, which earned him and the team millions of dollars in unpaid Call of Duty royalties, he went on to co-found Respawn Entertainment, the maker behind a series of hit titles, including Titanfall, Apex Legends, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and more.
Zampella’s strong track record landed him two promotions before he was put in charge of the popular Battlefield franchise in 2021. Under his leadership, Infinity Ward released four Call of Duty games, including Modern Warfare, an enduring fan favourite that’s widely regarded as one of the greatest video games ever made due to its influential campaign and multiplayer. His departure marks a big loss for the industry, which he helped change and revolutionise.
“Rest in peace Vince. As one of the founders of Infinity Ward and Call of Duty, you will always have a special place in our history. Your legacy of creating iconic, lasting entertainment is immeasurable. Our deepest condolences to Vince’s family and loved ones upon this terrible tragedy,” reads a statement from Respawn.
Thank you for the memories, good sir.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
