The video game industry is in mourning following the tragic death of Vince Zampella, one of the pivotal co-creators of the multi-billion pound Call of Duty franchise. He was 55 years old.
A Tragic Accident on Angeles Crest Highway
According to reports from NBC and the California Highway Patrol, Zampella was killed on Sunday afternoon in a single-vehicle collision. The crash occurred on the winding Angeles Crest Highway in the San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California.
The vehicle involved was a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS. Authorities state the car left the road and struck a concrete barrier. Zampella, who was driving, became trapped in the vehicle after it caught fire and was pronounced dead at the scene. An unnamed passenger was taken to hospital but later died from their injuries.
From Medal of Honor to a Gaming Empire
Born on 1 October 1970, Vince Zampella began his career in graphic design and digital video during the 1990s. His breakthrough came when he worked as a lead designer on the acclaimed World War II shooter Medal of Honor: Allied Assault between 1999 and 2002.
In 2003, he co-founded the seminal studio Infinity Ward alongside fellow developers Grant Collier and Jason West. Their mission was to create a rival to the Medal of Honor series, a project that swiftly evolved into the first Call of Duty game, released later that same year. Shortly after, Infinity Ward became a subsidiary of publishing giant Activision.
The success of the franchise was unprecedented. Over two decades, Call of Duty sold over 500 million copies, generating approximately $30 billion in revenue. It holds the Guinness World Record as the best-selling first-person shooter series of all time.
Legacy of a Visionary Game Creator
Zampella's journey was not without controversy. In 2009, he and Jason West were fired by Activision shortly after the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The pair sued for wrongful termination and secured a settlement believed to be worth tens of millions of dollars.
Undeterred, they founded Respawn Entertainment in April 2010. The studio was acquired by Electronic Arts in 2017 and became renowned for a string of major hits, including:
- Titanfall
- Apex Legends
- Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
- Battlefield 6
Tributes have poured in from across the industry. Renowned games journalist Geoff Keighley wrote on X: "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."
Keighley added, "He cared deeply about doing the right thing. And even while working inside large organizations, he consistently pushed to put players first — to prioritize the experience, the craft, and the people who played the games. He leaves behind an incredible legacy of work."
The loss of Vince Zampella marks the end of an era for interactive entertainment. His influence shaped one of the world's most lucrative media franchises and inspired a generation of developers, leaving an indelible mark on gaming history.
