Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford Reflects on Late FPS Legend Vince Zampella’s Playful Spirit, Sharing a Story of “Trolling” Eli Roth in Borderlands

In the wake of Vince Zampella’s passing in December, industry figures have been sharing their memories of the influential game designer. Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford recently took to Twitter to reflect on the “mischievous joy” Zampella brought to gaming, particularly during a memorable moment involving Borderlands movie director Eli Roth.

“Can’t stop thinking about Vince,” Pitchford wrote, recalling how his wife Kristy reminded him of a time when Roth was touring the Borderlands games, with Zampella and Kristy acting as guides.

“Vince was trolling,” Pitchford recounted. “He would wait until Eli stood too close to a barrel or something and then detonate it, sending Eli into Second Wind. Confusion and panic would ensue as Kristy rushed to help Eli recover. Just when Eli thought he was in the clear, BAM, Vince would strike again.”

Pitchford noted that Kristy was genuinely trying to provide Roth with a great experience, and it became clear that Zampella was having just as much fun teasing her as he was with Eli. “Vince had a knack for creating that kind of mischievous joy. He was truly awesome. It’s a real loss.”

Zampella tragically passed away in a single-car accident in Los Angeles on December 21. His impact on the first-person shooter genre is undeniable, having played a pivotal role in the development of Battlefield 6, which revitalized the series and outperformed Call of Duty in 2025. In October, Zampella remarked, “The only reason that CoD exists is because EA were dicks.”