Vince Zampella, the video game developer best known for co-creating the globally popular Call of Duty series, tragically passed away in a car crash in Los Angeles. Zampella was 55. According to the reports, the crash happened on Sunday on the Angeles Crest Highway in Southern California. NBC News Los Angeles first reported that Zampella was involved in a single-car Ferrari crash on the mountain road north of the city.
Who was Vince Zampella
In the world of video games, Zampella was one of the most influential figures of modern gaming. History will remember him for shaping first-person shooter games that went on to define an entire generation of players. Zampella began his career in the 1990s. He co-created Call of Duty in the early 2000s and later founded Respawn Entertainment. The studio is known for hit games such as Titanfall, Apex Legends, and the Star Wars Jedi series. Over his long career, Zampella earned a reputation as a creative leader who deeply cared about player experience and storytelling.
In 2002, Zampella co-founded Infinity Ward along with Jason West and Grant Collier. The studio signed a deal with Activision to create a game that could rival Medal of Honor and released the original Call of Duty game a year later. As CEO and Chief Creative Officer from 2002 to 2010, Zampella led the team that developed the original Call of Duty game, which was released in 2003. Inspired partly by World War II, Call of Duty became a global phenomenon almost overnight.
Over the years, Call of Duty has sold more than 500 million copies worldwide, making it one of the most profitable gaming franchises ever. The popular video game also inspired a live-action film.
Vince Zampella was married to Brigitte Zampella for 18 years. The couple had three children together. Brigitte filed for divorce in 2015 and sought primary custody of the children and spousal support. Reports at the time said there was no prenuptial agreement, which meant assets gained during the marriage would be split equally under California law.
How did Vince Zampella die?
According to NBC News Los Angeles, the crash was reported around 12:45 pm on Sunday. The Ferrari was travelling on Angeles Crest Highway in the San Gabriel Mountains when it veered off the road. A passenger was ejected from the vehicle, while the driver remained trapped inside as the car caught fire.
Zampella died at the scene. Officials said the passenger later died at a hospital. The identity of the passenger has not yet been released. Zampella’s death was confirmed by Electronic Arts, which owns Respawn Entertainment. A spokesperson for EA told the BBC that the company was devastated by the loss. “This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work,” the spokesperson said.