Vince Zampella, Visionary Co-Creator of Call of Duty, Dies at 55
Vince Zampella, co-creator of the iconic Call of Duty series and a pioneering figure in the video game industry, died in a car crash in Los Angeles at the age of 55, as reported on December 23, 2025. Zampella, alongside Jason West, co-founded Infinity Ward in Los Angeles after leaving Electronic Arts, where they created Call of Duty. He led the design of Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, a best-selling World War II game inspired by Saving Private Ryan, known for its globe-trotting action.
Call of Duty established new standards in squad-based multiplayer gameplay and cinematic intensity, emphasizing authenticity and a broader cast of characters rather than focusing on a single protagonist. The 2007 release Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare moved the series into contemporary conflict, featuring memorable missions such as "All Ghillied Up" and introducing influential online kill-streaks that shaped the modern multiplayer shooter genre.
In 2010, after being fired from Infinity Ward by Activision, Zampella and West founded Respawn Entertainment. At Respawn, Zampella oversaw the creation of Titanfall (2014), which popularized parkour-style movement and mech combat. Respawn also developed Apex Legends (2019), which launched with minimal publicity but quickly reached 10 million players within 72 hours, solidifying its status as a major battle-royale title. The studio expanded the Star Wars single-player experience with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2019) and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (2023).
In 2020, Electronic Arts appointed Zampella to oversee the Battlefield franchise. Battlefield 6, released in October, sold about 7 million copies within three days, marking the best opening in the series' history.
Industry figures like Geoff Keighley praised Zampella as an extraordinary gamer and visionary, highlighting his honesty, transparency, and player-first approach. Zampella's legacy is considered profoundly influential within the video game industry.
