Vince Zampella, the acclaimed video game developer and co-creator of Call of Duty, died Sunday in a high-speed crash on Angeles Crest Highway in Southern California.
Zampella, 55, was driving a red 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS when the car veered off the road just after exiting a tunnel in the San Gabriel Mountains, struck a concrete barrier, and caught fire, according to the California Highway Patrol. Zampella was trapped inside and died at the scene. A passenger was ejected and later died at a hospital; their identity has not been released.
Zampella was the head of Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind Titanfall, Apex Legends, and STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order. He previously served as CEO of Infinity Ward, the studio that created the blockbuster Call of Duty series.
Washington Post video game critic Gene Park praised Zampella’s creativity and humility. “He really knew how to create stories and experiences that hit at the heart of the human experience, whether it’s terror, dread, heroism,” Park said. “He was very well aware of the impact that he made on people, and he never took it for granted.”
EA, which acquired Respawn Entertainment in 2017, called Zampella a “friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator” whose work shaped modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers worldwide.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.