Call of Duty Creator Dies in Horrific Car Crash

Vince Zampella, one of the most influential figures in modern video game development and a co-creator of the Call of Duty franchise, was killed Sunday in a car crash in Southern California. He was 55.

Zampella died after the Ferrari he was driving crashed on Angeles Crest Highway in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles. A passenger in the vehicle was also killed. According to the California Highway Patrol, the single-car crash occurred shortly after noon when the vehicle exited a tunnel on the winding mountain road, struck a concrete barrier, and caught fire. Zampella was pronounced dead at the scene, while the passenger later died at a hospital. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.

Zampella was a central architect of the modern first-person shooter genre. He co-founded Infinity Ward in 2002 and played a leading role in creating Call of Duty, including its most influential entries such as Modern Warfare and Modern Warfare 2. The series went on to become one of the most successful franchises in entertainment history.

In 2010, Zampella co-founded Respawn Entertainment, which later produced the Titanfall series and the multiplayer hit Apex Legends. Respawn was acquired by Electronic Arts in 2017, after which Zampella assumed senior leadership roles within the company, including oversight of the Battlefield franchise.

Throughout his career, Zampella was known for combining large-scale commercial success with creative ambition, helping define the mechanics, storytelling, and multiplayer design that shaped an entire generation of games.

In a statement, Electronic Arts described his death as an “unimaginable loss,” praising his lasting impact on the industry and his role in inspiring players and developers worldwide.

Zampella is survived by his family. Further details have not been released.