Vince Zampella: Call of Duty Co-Creator

Vince Zampella, one of the most influential figures in modern video games and co-creator of the Call of Duty franchise, died at age 55 in a car crash on Angeles Crest Highway in Southern California on December 21, 2025. According to California Highway Patrol reports and multiple news outlets, the Ferrari 296 GTS he was driving veered off the winding mountain road after exiting a tunnel, struck a concrete barrier and burst into flames. Both Zampella and a passenger were killed in the accident, which remains under investigation.

Beyond the tragedy of how his life ended, Zampella’s career helped define what blockbuster interactive entertainment looks like in the 21st century. From Medal of Honor: Allied Assault to Call of Duty, from Titanfall and Apex Legends to shepherding Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and later leading the Battlefield franchise inside Electronic Arts, his fingerprints are all over the modern first-person shooter and live-service landscape.

This article looks back at his career, the circumstances of his death, and why Vince Zampella’s name will stay in the conversation every time people talk about the games that shaped a generation.

From Early PC Games to Building Infinity Ward

Zampella entered the game industry in the mid-1990s and quickly built a reputation as a technically savvy developer with a clear sense of what players actually enjoy. Working on PC shooters and military-themed titles, he was part of the core team behind Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, a World War II FPS that helped redefine cinematic storytelling and set-piece design in games.

In 2002 he co-founded Infinity Ward alongside Jason West and Grant Collier. One year later, the studio launched the first Call of Duty, a WWII shooter that emphasized squad-based combat, dramatic scripting and immersive audio design. The franchise rapidly grew into a global phenomenon, eventually selling more than 500 million copies across its many installments and becoming one of the most lucrative entertainment properties in history.

Under Zampella’s leadership, Infinity Ward delivered landmark titles like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) and Modern Warfare 2 (2009), which shifted the series from historical battles to contemporary fiction, setting the template for modern military shooters across the industry.

Respawn Entertainment, Titanfall, Apex Legends & More

In 2010, Zampella and Jason West were dismissed from Activision after a highly publicized dispute over royalties related to the Call of Duty franchise. The conflict ultimately ended in a confidential settlement in 2012, but it also opened the door to his next chapter.

That same year, Zampella co-founded Respawn Entertainment in partnership with Electronic Arts. Respawn’s first major release, Titanfall (2014), fused fast-paced infantry gunplay with agile parkour and controllable mechs, while Titanfall 2 followed with one of the most acclaimed single-player campaigns of its generation.

In 2019, Respawn released Apex Legends, a free-to-play battle royale that surprised the market with its squad-focused design, ping communication system and tight gunplay. The game has since grown into a durable live service title with a massive global player base.

Zampella and Respawn also moved beyond competitive shooters. The studio developed Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2019) and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (2023), story-driven action-adventure games praised for their combat, characters and respectful handling of the Star Wars universe. Electronic Arts acquired Respawn in 2017, and Zampella’s remit continued to grow inside the company.

Taking Over Battlefield and the Next Generation of Shooters

After the rocky launch of Battlefield 2042, EA tapped Zampella to help steady and re-imagine the franchise. He was promoted to oversee the broader Battlefield series, coordinating multiple studios and helping define the long-term direction of EA’s flagship military shooter.

Under his leadership, Battlefield 6 released in October 2025 to far better critical reception, with reviewers highlighting stronger map design, more coherent modes and a renewed focus on large-scale, class-based team play. While any major AAA shooter is a team effort, industry commentary has widely credited Zampella’s player-first ethos and willingness to course-correct as central to the revival.

The Angeles Crest Highway Crash: What We Know

On Sunday, December 21, 2025, Zampella was driving a red Ferrari 296 GTS on Angeles Crest Highway, a scenic but technically demanding mountain road in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles. According to the California Highway Patrol, the vehicle exited a tunnel, veered off the roadway, struck a concrete barrier and became fully engulfed in flames shortly after 12:45 p.m.

A passenger in the car was ejected by the impact and later died in hospital, while Zampella, who remained trapped in the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. As of the latest official statements, investigators have not publicly identified any definitive contributing factors such as impairment or mechanical failure; the crash remains under investigation, and authorities have not released a more detailed causal report.

Viral dash-cam and roadside videos of the crash circulating on social media show the Ferrari emerging from the tunnel at high speed before the violent collision and resulting fire. Out of respect for the victims and their families, most major outlets have opted to describe rather than heavily promote the most graphic footage.

Industry Reaction: Tributes to a Relentless Builder

News of Vince Zampella’s death sparked an immediate wave of tributes from across the games industry. Electronic Arts called him “a friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator” whose influence on interactive entertainment was “profound and far-reaching.” Respawn, Battlefield, and Apex Legends social accounts all issued statements honoring his leadership and impact.

Infinity Ward, the studio where the original Call of Duty was born, said that his “legacy of creating iconic, lasting entertainment is immeasurable,” while Treyarch added that his contributions as a founder of the franchise “will never be forgotten.” Journalists and longtime collaborators echoed the sentiment, describing a leader who pushed teams hard but consistently championed the player experience above all else.

Legacy: Redefining the Modern Shooter

Quantitatively, Zampella’s impact is obvious: the Call of Duty franchise alone has sold more than 500 million copies, while Apex Legends and the Star Wars Jedi games have brought Respawn massive commercial and critical success.

Qualitatively, his influence is even broader:

• He helped popularize highly scripted, cinematic FPS campaigns that still shape how single-player shooters are written and paced.
• He pushed for responsive controls, clear readability and “feel” in gunplay long before those became industry buzzwords.
• Through Respawn, he helped demonstrate that live-service shooters can combine competitive depth with strong world-building and character identity.
• By taking over Battlefield during a difficult period, he showed a willingness to inherit problems and rebuild trust with players.

Public reporting does not provide a reliable, verified figure for Vince Zampella’s net worth, and available online “estimates” are speculative at best. Out of respect for accuracy and privacy, it is more appropriate to measure his legacy in creative terms: the studios he founded, the franchises he helped build and the millions of players whose gaming lives passed through worlds he helped create.

Quick Q&A About Vince Zampella

Who was Vince Zampella?

Vince Zampella was a video game developer, studio head and executive best known as co-creator of the Call of Duty franchise and co-founder of both Infinity Ward and Respawn Entertainment. His teams delivered Call of Duty, Modern Warfare, Titanfall, Apex Legends, and the Star Wars Jedi series, and he later oversaw the Battlefield franchise at Electronic Arts.

How did Vince Zampella die?

Zampella died in a single-car crash on Angeles Crest Highway north of Los Angeles. The Ferrari 296 GTS he was driving left the roadway after exiting a tunnel, hit a concrete barrier and caught fire. He died at the scene; a passenger was ejected and later died in hospital. Authorities are still investigating the exact cause of the crash and have not publicly released a final determination.

What games did Vince Zampella work on?

Over his career, Zampella played key roles in Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, the early Call of Duty titles (including Modern Warfare and Modern Warfare 2), Titanfall and Titanfall 2, Apex Legends, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, among others. In his later years at EA, he oversaw development of the Battlefield franchise, including Battlefield 6.

Was Vince Zampella still working in games at the time of his death?

Yes. At the time of his death in December 2025, Zampella was head of Respawn Entertainment and held a senior leadership role at Electronic Arts with oversight of the Battlefield franchise, in addition to Respawn’s ongoing titles like Apex Legends.

Has the “creator of Call of Duty” died?

The Call of Duty franchise was created by a team at Infinity Ward, but Vince Zampella is widely described as a co-creator and founding leader of the series. His death has been reported globally with headlines referring to him as “creator” or “co-creator” of Call of Duty, reflecting his central role in shaping the franchise.