Vince Zampella, the acclaimed co-creator of the blockbuster video game franchise Call of Duty, has died in a car accident, gaming giant Electronic Arts confirmed on Monday. He was 55.
According to local broadcaster NBC4, Zampella was driving his Ferrari on a scenic road north of Los Angeles on Sunday when the vehicle veered off the roadway for reasons yet unknown, struck a concrete barrier and caught fire.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) stated that both Zampella, the driver, and a passenger who were ejected from the vehicle died from their injuries.
Witnesses shared videos online showing the mangled cherry-red Ferrari engulfed in flames on the mountain road.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Zampella was a pioneering figure in the gaming industry, widely credited with shaping the first-person military shooter genre.
He co-created the Call of Duty franchise and later founded Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind Titanfall, Apex Legends and the Star Wars Jedi games.
Beginning his career in the 1990s as a game designer, Zampella co-founded Infinity Ward in 2002 and helped launch Call of Duty in 2003, a franchise that continues to draw over 100 million active players each month.
Activision later acquired his studio, cementing Zampella’s legacy as one of the most influential figures in modern gaming.
