The video game industry is mourning the loss of one of its most influential figures. Vince Zampella, the co-creator of Call of Duty and a founding force behind Respawn Entertainment, has died following a car crash in Southern California. He was 55.
The news was confirmed on 23 December, sending shockwaves through the global gaming community, where Zampella was widely regarded as a visionary leader who helped shape modern shooters.
A Fatal Crash in the San Gabriel Mountains
According to the California Highway Patrol, Zampella was involved in a single-vehicle accident at around 12.45 pm on Sunday along Angeles Crest Highway, a winding scenic road north of Los Angeles.
Authorities say the southbound Ferrari veered off the road and struck a concrete barrier. The vehicle caught fire, trapping the driver inside. Zampella died at the scene, while a passenger who was ejected from the car later died in hospital. Investigators have not yet released details on what caused the crash.
Witnesses reportedly provided video of the incident, which involved a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS, a high-performance hybrid sports car.
Geoff Keighley Pays Emotional Tribute
Zampella’s longtime friend and industry figure Geoff Keighley shared a heartfelt message on social media.
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 truly great.
I saw that up close while writing The Final Hours of Titanfall. I’ll always be…
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) December 22, 2025
“I cannot believe I am writing this,” Keighley said, describing Zampella as “a titan of the video game industry” and “a dear friend”.
Keighley reflected on working closely with Zampella while writing The Final Hours of Titanfall, praising his honesty, transparency, and unwavering commitment to putting players first. He added that despite Zampella’s legendary body of work, it always felt like his greatest game was still ahead of him.
From Infinity Ward to Respawn Entertainment
Zampella began his career in the mid-1990s before co-founding Infinity Ward in 2002 alongside Jason West and Grant Collier. There, he helped create Call of Duty, a series that would go on to sell more than 500 million copies worldwide.
Under his leadership, Infinity Ward produced some of the franchise’s most celebrated titles, including Modern Warfare and Modern Warfare 2, helping redefine the first-person shooter genre.
After departing Activision in 2010, Zampella co-founded Respawn Entertainment, which was later acquired by Electronic Arts. At Respawn, he oversaw the creation of critically acclaimed games such as Titanfall and the global hit Apex Legends.
Leading Battlefield and a Last Public Appearance
In recent years, Zampella also took on a senior leadership role overseeing EA’s Battlefield franchise. Just 10 days before his death, he appeared at The Game Awards 2025, where Battlefield 6 won Best Audio Design.
EA described his passing as “an unimaginable loss”, calling Zampella a friend, leader, and visionary whose influence would be felt for generations.
A Legacy That Shaped Modern Gaming
Beyond sales figures and awards, Zampella was known for empowering creative teams and prioritising craftsmanship over trends. Colleagues frequently credited him with recognising talent early and giving developers the freedom to take bold risks.
From Medal of Honor to Call of Duty, Titanfall, Apex Legends, and Battlefield, his fingerprints are on some of the most important games of the past two decades.
As tributes continue to pour in, one sentiment is shared across the industry. Vince Zampella didn’t just make successful games, he changed how they were made, and how millions of players experienced them.