Call of Duty co-creator Vince Zampella killed in car crash

Game developer Vince Zampella, known for his work on many popular first-person shooter franchises, has died. According to the Los Angeles News Channel CNB4Zampella was killed Sunday in a single-vehicle crash with another unnamed person. He was 55 years old.

Zampella has directed several well-known first-person shooter titles. He was one of the founders of Infinity Ward, where he created the Call of Duty series. Zampella remained with the company for the launch of the first installments of the hugely popular franchise. In 2010, he co-founded Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind Fall of the Titans, Titanfall 2 And Apex Legends. Respawn was acquired by EA, and most recently Zampella ran DICE’s Los Angeles studio and led the Battlefield franchise, another FPS series that just saw the launch of Battlefield 6 earlier this year.

EA shared the following statement regarding Zampella’s passing: “This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts go out to Vince’s family, 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 gamers and developers around the world. His legacy will continue to shape the way games are made and the how gamers connect for generations to come.”

Updated, December 22, 2025, 3:53 p.m. ET: Added statement from EA.