Vince Zampella, the co-creator of Call of Duty, former head of Infinity Ward, and co-founder of Respawn Entertainment, has died. He was 55 years old.
Zampella was involved in a car crash on Sunday on Southern California’s Angeles Crest Highway on December 21. Per the NBC4 Investigates report, Zampella was involved in a single-vehicle accident around 12:45 on Sunday when the car veered off the road, hit a concrete barrier, and a passenger was ejected, the California Highway Patrol said.
Zampella was trapped in the car fire, where he died at the scene, and the passenger died later at the hospital.
Known for his work on some of the most popular franchises, Vince Zampella has worked on some of the biggest games in the world. Respawn Entertainment’s output includes Titanfall, Titanfall 2, Apex Legends, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor. Respawn was acquired by Electronic Arts in 2017.
In January 2020, Electronic Arts appointed Zampella as head of the Battlefield franchise to revive the series’ popularity. Earlier this year, Zampella and the team at Battlefield Studios delivered Battlefield 6, a massively successful follow-up that critics and the community have well received.
Electronic Arts provided Kotaku with a statement:
“This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work. Vince’s influence on the video game industry was profound and far-reaching. A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world. His legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come .”
