Vince Zampella, the co-creator of the Call of Duty franchise and head of Respawn Entertainment, has died at 55 in a Ferrari crash on Angeles Crest Highway north of Los Angeles.
The accident occurred on Sunday, December 21, 2025, when Zampella’s Ferrari veered off the winding mountain road shortly after 12:45 p.m., struck a concrete barrier, and caught fire.
Zampella was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the vehicle was ejected and later died in hospital. Authorities say the cause of the crash is under investigation.
Zampella was a major figure in the video game industry. He co-founded Infinity Ward in 2002 and helped launch Call of Duty in 2003, one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time.
He later co-founded Respawn Entertainment, producing titles including Titanfall, Apex Legends, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. At the time of his death, he was leading development on the Battlefield franchise.
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Electronic Arts described Zampella’s passing as a “profound and far-reaching loss” for the gaming industry.
His work helped shape modern first-person shooters and influenced generations of developers and players worldwide.
Zampella is survived by his three children. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.