Call of Duty, Titanfall developer Vince Zampella has died at age 55
Zampella co-founded Respawn Entertainment and the original Call of Duty studio, Infinity Ward.
Zampella co-founded Respawn Entertainment and the original Call of Duty studio, Infinity Ward.
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is a senior reporter covering technology, gaming, and more. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme.
Vince Zampella, who had a major hand in developing franchises like Medal of Honor, Call of Duty, and Battlefield, died in a car crash on Sunday, NBC Los Angeles reports. He was 55.
NBC Los Angeles and CBS Los Angeles report California Highway Patrol responded to a single-car crash at around 12:45PM local time on Angeles Crest Highway in Altadena. An Emergency SOS request came in via satellite from an Apple device, according to the CHP’s incident log.
The Highway Patrol did not identify Zampella, but CHP officer Marissa Mcintire sent over a press release about the crash that says:
Preliminary investigation indicated Vehicle #1 was traveling southbound on Angeles Crest Highway, approaching MPM 62.70, within the #1 lane. For unknown reasons, the vehicle veered off the roadway, struck a concrete barrier, and became fully engulfed. The passenger was ejected from the vehicle and the driver remained trapped. Both parties succumbed to their injuries.
Zampella co-founded Respawn Entertainment, which EA acquired in 2017 and is known for series like Titanfall, Apex Legends, and Star Wars Jedi. EA put him in charge of the Battlefield series in 2021 after the rocky launch of Battlefield 2042, and the series’ latest entry, Battlefield 6, has had a strong release. Before founding Respawn, Zampella helped co-create the Call of Duty series at Infinity Ward, where he served as Studio Head and CEO.
”This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work,” EA spokesperson Justin Higgs says in a statement. “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 interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world. His legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come.”
The Battlefield team shared this statement on X:
We are heartbroken by the loss of Vince Zampella, a creative leader whose work shaped generations of players and helped define what modern shooters and action games could be.
Across a remarkable career, Vince played a foundational role in franchises including Call of Duty, Titanfall, Apex Legends, and the Star Wars Jedi series. During his time guiding Battlefield, he led with care and purpose, always grounding decisions in what mattered most to the community and the long-term future of the franchise.
While his impact reached far beyond any one game or studio, we will remember Vince for how he showed up every day, trusting his teams, encouraging bold ideas, and believing in Battlefield and the people building it.
We are deeply grateful for his leadership, his generosity, and the care he brought to everything he touched, and we will carry that forward with us.
We’re heartbroken by the passing of our founder and dear friend Vince Zampella.
Vince was a titan and legend of this industry, a visionary leader and a force who shaped teams and games like Call of Duty, Titanfall, Apex Legends, the Star Wars Jedi series and Battlefield for our community in ways that will be felt for generations.
His impact reached far beyond any one game or studio. We will remember Vince for how he showed up every day, trusting his teams, encouraging bold ideas, and believing in Respawn & Battlefield. Most importantly, he championed what he believed was right for the people behind those studios and our players because it mattered.
We will miss him greatly.
Our hearts are with his family, friends, and all who love him.
Infinity Ward shared one, too:
Rest in peace Vince.
As one of the founders of Infinity Ward and Call of Duty, you will always have a special place in our history.
Your legacy of creating iconic, lasting entertainment is immeasurable.
Our deepest condolences to Vince’s family and loved ones upon this terrible tragedy.
Updates, December 22nd: Added statements from EA, the Battlefield team, Respawn, and Infinity Ward.
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