Vince Zampella, the visionary developer who created the billion Call of Duty franchise and led studios behind big hits such as Apex Legends and Star Wars Jedi was killed in a single-car accident.
The incident occurred on Sunday, December 21 around 12:45 PM (local time) on the winding Angeles Crest Highway north of Los Angeles.
He was 55.
The California Highway Patrol confirmed that the southbound 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS veered off the road and then struck a concrete barrier and was destroyed in fire.
The driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene, while the passenger (who ejected) was taken to hospital.
However, it is not confirmed which of them is Zampella.
Zampella was an icon of the modern gaming industry. As the co-founder and former CEO of Infinity Ward, he played a phenomenal role in the launch of Call of Duty series in 2003 that started a new era of the military shooter genre.
After a landmark departure from Activision, he co-founded Respawn Entertainment in 2010, which he led until its acquisition by Electronic Arts (EA) in 2017.
Under his supervision, Respawn developed acclaimed titles including Titan fall, Apex Legendsand Star Wars Jedi series.
In 2021, his role expanded when EA placed him in charge of the entire Battlefield series, where he was credited with directing the latest successful revival.
News of his car accident has sent shockwaves through the gaming industry with tributes pouring in from colleagues and fans.
Details of the incidents are still under investigation.
