Vince Zampella, Influential Call of Duty Video Game Developer, Dies in Car Crash at 55

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Video game creator Vince Zampella, known for his work on the popular Call of Duty series, died in a car accident on Sunday at the age of 55. The California Highway Patrol reported that Zampella and another person were driving on Angeles Crest Highway when their Ferrari left the road and hit a concrete barrier.

An Impressive Career

I’ve been a fan of games created by Jason Zampella for years! He really made his mark when he led the team that first created Call of Duty – it’s incredible how huge that franchise became. After that, he co-founded Respawn Entertainment, and they went on to make some of my favorite games like Titanfall, Titanfall 2, Apex Legends, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. It was a little sad to see Electronic Arts buy Respawn in 2017, but I’m still excited to see what they do next.

According to Forbes, Vince Zampella recently took leadership of the Battlefield video game series, and the latest installment, Battlefield 6, released this year, has become one of 2025’s most successful games.

Industry and Fan Reactions

The gaming world was stunned by the news. Geoff Keighley, known for hosting The Game Awards and writing the book The Final Hours of Titanfall: Behind the Scenes at Respawn Entertainment, shared a heartfelt message on X. He described the person as an exceptional individual – a true gamer and a forward-thinking leader who had a unique talent for spotting potential and empowering people to make amazing things.

I cannot believe I am writing this.

Vince Zampella, a leading figure in the video game world known for co-creating Call of Duty and founding Respawn Entertainment, tragically passed away in a car accident in Los Angeles yesterday.

— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) December 22, 2025

Game producer JP Kellams expressed his shock and sadness at the news of Vince Zampella’s passing. Though they never worked together directly, Kellams remembered Zampella as both a talented game creator and a friend, calling him a legend and a giant in the gaming industry.

Vince Zampella was not just an amazing game creator. He was also a friend.

In absolute shock right now. Rest in peace to an absolute legend and giant of our industry.

— JP Kellams (@synaesthesiajp) December 22, 2025

Fans widely shared feelings of sadness and praised Zampella as a legend. Streamer Xfactor Gaming recalled a moment from before the release of Titanfall, where Zampella reportedly said, “I wanted to create the game my way, and it seems like it paid off. Seeing everyone enjoy it is what matters most.”

I had the pleasure of hanging out with Vince Zampella on multiple trips through the years.

Had some lovely conversations and experiences as well.

I remember one conversation vividly, from when I saw some early footage of Titanfall about a year before its release. He was simply watching a few…

— Xfactor Gaming – Battlefield 6 & Arc Raiders (@rivaLxfactor) December 22, 2025

Conclusion

The California Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the car accident that caused the death of Zampella. He will be remembered for his huge impact on the video game industry. Zampella was a key figure in the development of popular first-person shooter games and created a work environment that encouraged developers and connected with players around the globe. He is survived by his three children and a large number of devoted fans.

Were you familiar with Vince Zampella outside of his work? Share your thoughts and memories below.

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2025-12-23 01:57