Vince Zampella, the visionary behind the iconic Call of Duty series, lost his life in a devastating car accident, Electronic Arts announced on Monday. He was 55.
The tragedy unfolded Sunday on a picturesque Los Angeles mountain road, where Zampella’s Ferrari inexplicably swerved, smashed into a concrete barrier, and burst into flames, according to NBC4. The California Highway Patrol confirmed that Zampella, behind the wheel, and a passenger, thrown from the vehicle, both succumbed to their injuries.
Bystander footage circulating online captures the harrowing scene: a crimson Ferrari consumed by fire along the rugged highway. Authorities are still probing the crash’s cause.
Zampella’s groundbreaking work redefined gaming, particularly the first-person shooter genre. As co-founder of Infinity Ward, he launched Call of Duty in 2003, a franchise that now boasts over 100 million monthly players. After Activision acquired his studio, Zampella established Respawn Entertainment, delivering hits like Titanfall, Apex Legends, and the Star Wars Jedi series.
Starting as a designer in the 1990s, Zampella’s influence cemented his status as a cornerstone of modern gaming culture.
