Vince Zampella, a visionary figure whose work helped define a generation of military-themed video games, has died following a traffic collision. He was 55 years old.
According to authorities, the accident occurred on Sunday afternoon on the Angeles Crest Highway in California. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
Zampella’s career was marked by a series of landmark achievements in interactive entertainment. He first rose to prominence as a co-founder of the studio Infinity Ward in the early 2000s, where he was instrumental in creating the blockbuster Call of Duty franchise. Titles developed under his leadership, including the groundbreaking Modern Warfare series, are credited with revolutionizing the first-person shooter genre and have collectively sold hundreds of millions of copies worldwide.
His creative influence extended far beyond a single series. After departing Infinity Ward, Zampella founded Respawn Entertainment, a studio that produced the critically acclaimed Titanfall games and the massively popular battle royale title Apex Legends. Most recently, he had taken on a leadership role overseeing the storied Battlefield franchise.
News of his passing prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the industry. His current employer released a statement honoring his legacy, describing him as a “visionary creator” whose work “helped shape modern interactive entertainment” and inspired countless players and developers globally. The statement emphasized that his influence on how games are made and how communities form around them will endure.
Zampella is survived by a legacy of iconic games that have become cultural touchstones, cementing his status as one of the most impactful developers of his era.