Vince Zampella, one of the key figures behind the global success of the Call of Duty video game franchise, has died following a fatal car accident in California.
He was 55.
Electronic Arts (EA), the parent company of Respawn Entertainment which Zampella co-founded, confirmed his death.
According to authorities, the incident occurred on a Los Angeles highway on Sunday when a Ferrari carrying two occupants left the road, struck a concrete barrier and caught fire.
Both individuals in the vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene.
The California Highway Patrol said one person was ejected from the car while the other remained trapped inside.
Investigators have not yet clarified who was driving or released the identity of the second occupant.
EA described Zampella’s passing as a devastating loss, paying tribute to his impact on the gaming industry and the communities shaped by his work.
Zampella rose to prominence in 2003 after co-creating Call of Duty alongside Jason West and Grant Collier.
Originally inspired by World War II, the franchise went on to sell over 500 million copies worldwide, becoming one of the most commercially successful video game series ever and a cornerstone of Activision’s business.
A live-action film adaptation is also in development.
Beyond Call of Duty, Zampella played a central role in the creation of several other major titles, including Medal of Honor, Titanfall and Apex Legends, further cementing his reputation as one of the industry’s most influential developers.
After a high-profile split from Activision in 2010, Zampella later joined Electronic Arts, where he worked on Battlefield 6, a direct rival to Call of Duty.
Tributes have poured in from across the gaming world, with Infinity Ward describing his legacy as “immeasurable” and crediting him with shaping modern interactive entertainment.
Zampella is remembered not only for blockbuster franchises, but also for his deep focus on player experience — a philosophy many say defined his career and transformed the gaming landscape.
