Call of Duty Co-Creator Vince Zampella Dies in California Car Crash

Vince Zampella, the co-creator of the globally successful Call of Duty series, has died after a car crash in California, authorities and his employer confirmed. He was 55.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Zampella was travelling in a Ferrari with another person when the vehicle veered off a highway in Los Angeles, struck a concrete barrier, and became fully engulfed in flames on Sunday. Officials said one passenger was ejected from the vehicle while the driver remained trapped. Both occupants died at the scene. It remains unclear whether Zampella was driving and who the second victim was.

Zampella’s death was confirmed by Electronic Arts, which owns Respawn Entertainment, the studio he co-founded. In a statement, EA paid tribute to his lasting impact on the gaming industry.

Zampella created Call of Duty in 2003 alongside collaborators Jason West and Grant Collier. Inspired in part by World War II, the franchise has sold over 500 million copies worldwide, becoming one of the most profitable gaming properties ever and spawning an upcoming live-action film.

Beyond Call of Duty, Zampella played a key role in developing other major franchises including Medal of Honor, Titanfall, and Apex Legends. In 2010, he and West were dismissed from Activision and later settled a high-profile legal dispute with the company in 2012. At EA, Zampella went on to oversee major projects, including work on Battlefield 6.

Tributes poured in from across the gaming world. Journalist and Game Awards host Geoff Keighley described Zampella as a “visionary executive” and a “dear friend,” while The Guardian’s video games editor Keza MacDonald said he deeply cared about player experience. Infinity Ward, the original developer of Call of Duty, said Zampella “will always have a special place in our history,” calling his legacy “immeasurable.”