Vince Zampella, one of the key creative forces behind the globally successful Call of Duty video game franchise, has died at the age of 55. Video game publisher Electronic Arts (EA) confirmed his death, as tributes poured in from across the gaming industry.
U.S. media reports said Zampella was killed in a single-vehicle accident involving a Ferrari in Southern California. The crash reportedly occurred in the San Gabriel Mountains shortly before 1pm local time. While EA did not officially confirm the cause of death, the incident has been widely reported by American outlets.
Zampella was widely regarded as a pioneer of modern first-person shooter games. He previously served as chief executive of Infinity Ward, the studio responsible for launching Call of Duty in 2003, a franchise that has since sold more than 500 million copies worldwide. In 2010, he founded Respawn Entertainment, later acquired by EA, where he led the development of acclaimed titles including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
In a statement, EA described Zampella as a “visionary creator” whose impact on gaming was “profound and far-reaching.” The company said his work helped define modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world. His legacy, EA added, will continue to influence how games are made and experienced for generations to come.
