Vince Zampella, the video game developer behind the massively popular Call of Duty franchise, has died in a car wreck while driving his Ferrari in California, according to news reports.
Zampella, whose studio Infinity Ward catapulted the Call of Duty franchise into one of the most popular video games worldwide, died on Sunday, Dec. 21, in a car crash on Southern California’s Angeles Crest Highway, according to NBC4 Los Angeles.
Electronic Arts, a games studio where Zampella developed multiple games − including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order − confirmed Zampella’s death in a statement shared with USA TODAY.
“This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work,” the company said.
Zampella, 55, died in a single-car crash at about 12:45 p.m. north of Los Angeles on the scenic two-lane highway when the car veered off the road and into a concrete barrier. A passenger was ejected from the car while the driver remained trapped as it became engulfed in fire, the California Highway Patrol said.
Both died from their injuries, according to Officer Shanelle Phillips. It was unclear what caused the car to veer off the road, the highway patrol spokesperson said.
Marquee games for Infinity Ward attached to Zampella included Call of Duty 2, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
Zampella is also known for heading Respawn Entertainment, the development studio behind games including Apex Legends, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
“Vince’s influence on the video game industry was profound and far-reaching,” Electronic Arts said. “A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world. His legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come.”
Geoff Keighley, host and creator of The Game Awards, called Zampella a “titan of the video game industry.”
“Vince was an extraordinary person − a gamer at heart, but also a visionary executive with a rare ability to recognize talent and give people the freedom and confidence to create something truly great,” Keighley said in a statement. “While he created some of the most influential games of our time, I always felt he still had his greatest one ahead of him. It’s heartbreaking that we’ll never get to play it.”
Stephen Totilo, a prominent journalist covering the gaming world, said in a brief statement that Zampella was “a gaming leader who always struck me as refreshingly humble.”
Totilo shared recent quotes from Zampella on how the key to his success was in focusing on the story behind each game.
“That’s always what it comes back to … The story can be great, and it has to be great,” Zampella said, according to Totilo. “If it doesn’t feel good, who cares? You’d be better off watching a show on Disney Plus or something. So we have to bring our element to it. And that is that the touch, the feel − it’s got to feel good.”

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