Vince Zampella Dies in Car Accident; Creator of Call of Duty, Titanfall, Apex Legends

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Car Accident Claims Life of Vince Zampella, Visionary Behind Call of Duty, Titanfall, Apex Legends

On July 31, 2025, Vince Zampella, head of Respawn Entertainment and Executive Vice President at EA Studios, died in a single-vehicle accident on the Angeles Crest Highway, north of Los Angeles. He was 55 years old. According to NBC4 Investigates, the accident occurred around 12:45 PM when Zampella’s 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS veered off the Angeles Crest Highway and struck a concrete barrier, causing a fire. Zampella, who was driving, was ejected from the vehicle and died at the hospital. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is investigating whether drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash. An eyewitness reportedly provided video of the crash to authorities. NBC Los Angeles has sought comments from Zampella’s family, Respawn Entertainment, and EA.

Visionary Zampella’s Career Milestones and Battlefield Takeover

Born on October 1, 1970, Vince Zampella became a prominent figure in military first-person shooter (FPS) games. He worked for Gametek, Atari, SegaSoft, and 2015 Inc., where he served as the principal concept designer for Medal of Honor: Allied Assault. In May 2002, Zampella, along with Jason West and Grant Collier, founded Infinity Ward, the studio behind the groundbreaking Call of Duty franchise. Under his leadership, Infinity Ward released influential titles such as Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Modern Warfare 2. Following a legal dispute with Activision regarding their termination, Zampella and West founded Respawn Entertainment in 2010. The studio signed with Electronic Arts in 2017 and launched Titanfall, followed by Titanfall 2, Apex Legends, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Zampella led Respawn to become known for innovation in multiplayer gameplay and battle royale modes. Starting in 2020, following the release of Battlefield 2042, EA placed Zampella in charge of overseeing the Battlefield franchise through Battlefield Studios. He also headed Respawn Entertainment and oversaw the development of Battlefield 6, which became a major success.

Zampella’s Unforgettable Impact on Gaming: Co-Creator of Call of Duty and Respawn Entertainment Founder

Zampella’s death has deeply impacted the video game industry, with figures like Geoff Keighley expressing disbelief. His contributions as co-creator of Call of Duty and co-founder of Respawn Entertainment have left an undeniable mark on the world of gaming.

In Case You Missed It

In the world of gaming, we’ve got a trio of posts you won’t want to miss! Firstly, Sophie Laurent pays tribute to the late Vince Zampella in her recent post “URGENT: Vince Zampella, Creator of Call of Duty and Respawn, Dies at 55” (published December 22nd), where she explores the life and legacy of this influential figure who left an indelible mark on the industry. Then, Marcus Thompson revs up your battle royale experience with his latest, ‘Apex Legends: Amped – Reimagined Olympus’ (out October 30th), promising thrilling updates to Respawn Entertainment’s classic map with new zones and Legend adjustments like Valkyrie’s improved jetpack controls and Horizon’s enhanced gravity lift. Lastly, tech-savvy Sophie drops a hot scoop about EA’s latest release in ‘Free Battle Royale Game Battlefield REDSEC Launched’ (published Oct 29), diving into the new game that’s giving Call of Duty Warzone a run for its money with innovative tactical destruction mechanics and two exciting new modes, Arena and Portal. So dive in and enjoy these fantastic reads! (), (), ().