Vince Zampella, the visionary creator of "Call of Duty," died in a tragic Ferrari crash

Vince Zampella, a veteran of the video game industry and renowned game developer who redefined iconic franchises like "Call of Duty," died in a tragic road accident on Sunday. He was 55 years old. The accident occurred around 12:45 p.m. on the Angeles Crest Highway in the San Gabriel Mountains, north of Los Angeles.

Vince Zampella

According to officials and media reports, the 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS Zampella was driving lost control on a winding mountain road and collided with a concrete barrier. The car caught fire immediately after the collision. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) team arrived at the scene to find the vehicle completely engulfed in flames. Zampella was trapped inside the car and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another passenger was also in the car at the time of the accident, who was ejected during the impact. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition and later died. The passenger's identity has not yet been released. Investigating agencies have not yet issued an official statement on the cause of the accident, nor have they clarified whether alcohol or drugs played a role.

The passing of Vince Zampella has sent shockwaves through the global gaming community. In 2002, he co-founded Infinity Ward, the originator of the iconic military shooter series Call of Duty. The franchise has subsequently become one of the world's best-selling and highest-grossing entertainment properties.

After parting ways with Infinity Ward, Zampella founded Respawn Entertainment in 2010 with his partner, Jason West. There, they distinguished themselves with popular and innovative games like Titanfall, Titanfall 2, Apex Legends, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. He later oversaw the development of the Battlefield franchise, giving the classic series a new direction in the modern era.

Respawn, a subsidiary of Electronic Arts (EA), described Zampella as a "visionary creator," saying his contributions weren't limited to a few successful games, but rather redefined how modern video games tell stories and connect players.

The Game Awards host Geoff Keeley called him "a great pillar of the video game industry," while EA called his passing an "unimaginable loss," saying his impact on interactive entertainment will always be remembered.

As the investigation into the accident continues, family, friends, and millions of fans around the world are trying to cope with the profound grief of the sudden loss of this influential name in the gaming world.