Vince Zampella, the renowned co-creator of the globally successful video game franchise Call of Duty, has reportedly died following a car accident, Electronic Arts confirmed on Monday. He was 55 years old.
According to a report by local broadcaster NBC4, Zampella was driving his Ferrari along a scenic route north of Los Angeles on Sunday when the car reportedly lost control under circumstances that are yet to be determined. The vehicle veered off the road, slammed into a concrete barrier, and burst into flames.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) disclosed that both Zampella and a passenger were thrown from the vehicle during the crash and later succumbed to their injuries.
Videos shared by eyewitnesses on social media captured the aftermath of the incident, showing the severely damaged cherry-red Ferrari engulfed in flames on the mountain roadway.
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Authorities say investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Zampella was a trailblazer in the gaming world and is widely recognised for his role in defining the first-person military shooter genre. He co-created Call of Duty and later went on to establish Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind major titles such as Titanfall, Apex Legends and the Star Wars Jedi series.
He began his career in the 1990s as a game designer and co-founded Infinity Ward in 2002, before launching Call of Duty in 2003. The franchise has since grown into one of the most successful in gaming history, attracting over 100 million active players monthly.
Infinity Ward was later acquired by Activision, further solidifying Zampella’s reputation as one of the most influential figures in modern video game development.
