Dec 23, 2025 10:35:00

Vince Zampella, creator of 'Call of Duty' and 'Apex Legends,' dies in car accident

Vince Zampella, a popular game developer known as the co-creator of the popular shooter series '

Call of Duty ,' which has sold over 500 million copies , has died in a car accident. He was 55 years old.

Vince Zampella, 'Call of Duty' developer, killed in LA crash – NBC Los Angeles
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/video-game-developer-vince-zampella-crash-call-of-duty/3819576/

Vince Zampella, co-creator of Call of Duty video game series, dies aged 55 | Games | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/22/vince-zampella-co-creator-of-call-of-duty-video-game-series-dies-aged-55

'Call of Duty' Creator Vince Zampella Dies in Car Crash
https://www.tmz.com/2025/12/22/call-of-duty-vince-zampella-dies-car-crash/

Vince Zampella, video game designer behind 'Call of Duty,' dead at 55 | Mashable
https://mashable.com/article/vince-zampella-death-call-duty

Zampella is a game designer known for being the co-founder of game development companies Respawn Entertainment and Infinity Ward , and for leading the production of the Call of Duty series, among other games he has worked on, including Medal of Honor and Titanfall .

At approximately 12:45 PM local time on Sunday, December 21, 2025, the California Highway Patrol received a call about a single-vehicle accident on Angeles Crest Highway . Zamperla was reportedly killed in the crash. Zamperla was found dead in the driver's seat of the vehicle involved, and his passenger was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Zampella began his career in the video game industry in the mid-1990s and was most recently promoted to head of development for the Battlefield series at Electronic Arts (EA). The latest installment in the series, Battlefield 6 , released in October 2025, was a huge hit, selling over 7 million copies in the first three days of its release.

Zampella co-founded the game studio Infinity Ward with Grant Collier and Jason West in 2002. At Infinity Ward, he co-created the Call of Duty series and was involved in the production of popular titles such as

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (released in 2007) and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (released in 2009). The Call of Duty series is a popular title with cumulative sales of over 500 million copies.

In 2010, EA founded another game development company, Respawn Entertainment, which is involved in the production of popular titles such as the Titanfall series and Apex Legends .

Regarding Zampella's death, EA issued the following statement: 'This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince's family, loved ones, and all those touched by his work. Vince's impact on the games industry was immeasurable and far-reaching. A friend, colleague, leader, and visionary creator, his work helped shaped modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world. His legacy will continue to influence the way games are made and the way players connect with each other for generations to come.'