Vince Zampella, the renowned co-creator of the blockbuster video game franchise Call of Duty, has died following a car accident, gaming company Electronic Arts confirmed on Monday. He was 55.
According to local broadcaster NBC4, Zampella was driving his Ferrari on a scenic road north of Los Angeles on Sunday when the vehicle veered off the road, struck a concrete barrier and caught fire. The California Highway Patrol said both Zampella and a passenger, who were ejected from the car, died from injuries sustained in the crash.
Videos shared online by witnesses showed the cherry-red Ferrari badly damaged and engulfed in flames on the mountain road. Authorities say the cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Zampella was a pioneering figure in the global gaming industry and is widely credited with shaping the modern first-person military shooter genre. He co-created the Call of Duty franchise and later founded Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind Titanfall, Apex Legends and the Star Wars Jedi series.
He began his career in the 1990s as a game designer and went on to co-found Infinity Ward in 2002, launching Call of Duty the following year. The franchise has since grown into one of the most successful in gaming history, attracting over 100 million active players monthly.
Activision later acquired Infinity Ward, further cementing Zampella’s legacy as one of the most influential and visionary figures in modern video game development.
