Vince Zampella, co-creator of Call of Duty and founder of Respawn, tragically passes away in a car accident.

Vince Zampella, co-founder of Respawn Entertainment and head of EA Studios, tragically lost his life in a car accident on Sunday, as reported by a local news outlet. He was 55 years old.

The incident occurred in the San Gabriel Mountains, north of Los Angeles, where Zampella was involved in a crash that also claimed the life of another passenger who later succumbed to injuries at the hospital.

In a statement, Electronic Arts expressed their condolences, acknowledging the profound impact Zampella had on the gaming industry. They emphasized the loss felt by his family, friends, and all those influenced by his work. Zampella was a visionary leader whose contributions shaped modern gaming and inspired countless players and developers. His legacy will undoubtedly continue to influence the industry for years to come.

With nearly three decades in the gaming world, Zampella co-founded Infinity Ward in 2002, where he played a pivotal role in the creation and rise of the Call of Duty franchise. He later established Respawn Entertainment, known for titles like Apex Legends, Titanfall, and the Star Wars Jedi series. His success in AAA shooters led to him taking charge of the Battlefield franchise in 2021, which this year saw the launch of the largest game in the series, Battlefield 6.

Before his work on Call of Duty and Titanfall, Zampella was part of the team at 2015 Inc., which developed Medal of Honor: Allied Assault for EA. This team eventually formed Infinity Ward, where Zampella, along with co-founders Jason West and Grant Collier, began working on the Call of Duty series. The original Call of Duty, a realistic World War II shooter, was released in 2003, and during his tenure at Infinity Ward, Zampella held various roles, including studio head and chief creative officer, contributing to several sequels, notably the groundbreaking Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

Zampella and West faced challenges when they were dismissed by Activision, leading them to sue the publisher for unpaid earnings, ultimately resulting in a settlement.

After leaving Infinity Ward, Zampella and West founded Respawn Entertainment in 2010, where they developed the Titanfall series, Apex Legends, and the action-adventure titles Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Given his impressive track record, EA entrusted Zampella with revitalizing the Battlefield franchise following the lukewarm reception of Battlefield 2042.