Vince Zampella, Co-Creator of 'Call of Duty,' Dies at 55 in California Car Crash

Vince Zampella, a pivotal figure in the video game industry and co-creator of the 'Call of Duty' franchise, died on Sunday at the age of 55 in a car accident in California.

The California Highway Patrol reported that the crash occurred around 12:45 p.m. on the Angeles Crest Highway in the San Gabriel Mountains. The vehicle, a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS, veered off the road, struck a concrete barrier, and caught fire. Both occupants, including Zampella, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Zampella co-founded Infinity Ward in 2002, leading the development of the original 'Call of Duty' game released in 2003. The franchise has since sold over 500 million copies worldwide.

In 2010, he founded Respawn Entertainment, which produced successful titles such as 'Titanfall,' 'Apex Legends,' and 'Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.'

Electronic Arts, which acquired Respawn in 2017, stated, "A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world."

Geoff Keighley, a video game journalist, remarked, "Vince was an extraordinary person—a gamer at heart, but also a visionary executive with a rare ability to recognize talent and give people the freedom and confidence to create something ... ."

The cause of the crash is under investigation, and authorities have not yet determined whether drugs or alcohol were factors.