By Ghazali Ibrahim
Call of Duty co‑creator and video game industry pioneer Vince Zampella has died at the age of 55 in a car accident in Southern California, authorities and industry leaders confirmed.
Zampella, who helped co‑found Infinity Ward and was a leading force behind the blockbuster Call of Duty franchise, died on Sunday, Dec. 21, when the Ferrari he was driving veered off Angeles Crest Highway north of Los Angeles, struck a concrete barrier after exiting a tunnel and caught fire. A passenger in the vehicle was also dead.
The California Highway Patrol confirmed the single‑vehicle crash in the San Gabriel Mountains, noting both occupants died as a result of the collision. Investigators have not yet released details on the cause of the accident.
Zampella was a towering figure in modern video games. He co‑founded Infinity Ward in 2002 and played a central role in launching Call of Duty in 2003, helping it become one of the most successful franchises in gaming history with hundreds of millions of copies sold worldwide. Later, he co‑founded Respawn Entertainment, responsible for acclaimed titles including Titanfall, Apex Legends and Star Wars Jedi.
In recent years he led the revitalisation of the Battlefield franchise as part of Electronic Arts (EA).
Tributes poured in on social media from developers and players alike, remembering Zampella as a visionary designer and leader whose creative legacy will continue to influence the video game world for generations.
Zampella’s death marks a deep loss for the global gaming community and the many millions of fans who grew up playing the games he helped bring to life.
