Vince Zampella, Call of Duty Co-Creator, Dies in California Car Crash at 55
Vince Zampella, the co-creator of the popular video game Call of Duty, died in a car crash on a Los Angeles highway in California at the age of 55. The crash involved Zampella's Ferrari, which veered off the road, struck a concrete barrier, and became engulfed in flames. Both occupants of the vehicle died, though it remains unclear who was driving or the identity of the other passenger.
Electronic Arts, owner of Respawn Entertainment—the studio Zampella co-founded—confirmed his death. Zampella, along with Jason West and Grant Collier, co-created Call of Duty in 2003. The franchise has sold more than 500 million copies worldwide and currently has a live-action film adaptation in development.
Beyond Call of Duty, Zampella also led the development of other notable games including Medal of Honor, Titanfall, and Apex Legends. He and Jason West were fired from Activision in 2010 and subsequently settled their dispute out of court in 2012.
Infinity Ward, the company behind Call of Duty, stated that Zampella will always have a special place in its history. Electronic Arts described him as a visionary leader who cared deeply about player experience and honesty in game development.
Industry figures such as Geoff Keighley and Guardian editor Keza MacDonald paid tribute, recognizing Zampella's significant impact and vision within the gaming community.
