Vince Zampella, the acclaimed co-creator of the blockbuster video game franchise Call of Duty, has died in a car accident, gaming giant 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 roadway for reasons yet unknown, struck a concrete barrier and caught fire.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) stated that both Zampella, the driver, and a passenger who were ejected from the vehicle died from their injuries.
Witnesses shared videos online showing the mangled cherry-red Ferrari engulfed in flames on the mountain road.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Zampella was a pioneering figure in the gaming industry, widely credited with shaping the 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 games.
Beginning his career in the 1990s as a game designer, Zampella co-founded Infinity Ward in 2002 and helped launch Call of Duty in 2003, a franchise that continues to draw over 100 million active players each month.
Activision later acquired his studio, cementing Zampella’s legacy as one of the most influential figures in modern gaming.
‘Call of duty’ creator killed in car crash
