Vince Zampella, the man behind Call of Duty, TitanFall, Has Died

Vince Zampella, Infinity Ward co-founder and Respawn CEO, has died aged 55 after a car crash in California. Here’s what happened, what EA said, and what it means for Battlefield and Respawn.

Vince Zampella dies at 55: Battlefield and COD lose a giant

Vince Zampella — Infinity Ward co-founder, Call of Duty co-creator, and the head of Respawn — has died aged 55 (VGC).

If you’ve played a modern shooter in the last 20 years, chances are you’ve felt his fingerprints on it. From early Call of Duty to Respawn’s slick movement shooters, Zampella helped set the “this is what good feels like” bar.

Vince Zampella has died aged 55 after a car crash in Souther California
EA called it an "unimaginable loss" and credited his impact on modern games
Reports say the crash involved a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS; details like who was driving weren't confirmed at the time

What’s been reported so far

The reporting around the news says Zampella died following a car crash on Angeles Crest Highway in Southern California.

The car reportedly left the road, hit a concrete barrier, and caught fire
One person died at the scene and another later at hospital
At the time of reporting, it wasn’t confirmed if Zampella was the driver or passenger
VGC notes the crash reportedly involved a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS

This is still a developing story, so expect official details to firm up as authorities confirm identities and circumstances.

EA’s response and industry tributes

EA issued a statement via a spokesperson, calling it an “unimaginable loss” and praising Zampella’s influence on players and developers.

EA described him as a leader and creator who helped shape modern interactive entertainment
Geoff Keighley wrote a long remembrance, describing Zampella as both a “gamer at heart” and a rare executive who backed talent

In plain terms: this wasn’t just a well-known exec passing away. It’s one of the key people who made today’s blockbuster shooter formula.

This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work. Vince’s influence on the video game industry was profound and far-reaching. A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern… https://t.co/af2C4bvsmE
— Electronic Arts (@EA) December 22, 2025

Why Vince Zampella mattered to shooters

Zampella’s career reads like a timeline of the genre’s biggest turning points.

He worked in games in the 1990s, including roles tied to big legacy publishers
He helped lead work on Medal of Honor: Allied Assault
He co-founded Infinity Ward and helped create Call of Duty
After leaving Activision, he co-founded Respawn Entertainment (Titanfall, Apex Legends, Star Wars Jedi)

What this could mean for Battlefield and Respawn

VGC notes Zampella was overseeing Battlefield and links his leadership to Battlefield 6’s success.

Battlefield and Respawn are big ships inside EA, so day-to-day work won’t stop overnight
But leadership changes can affect timelines, priorities, and how studios are managed
For players, live-service updates should carry on as planned (that work is distributed across teams)

Who was Vince Zampella?

He was a key figure in modern shooters: an Infinity Ward co-founder tied to Call of Duty’s early rise, and later the co-founder and leader of Respawn Entertainment.