The gaming world is in shock: Vince Zampella is dead. The founder of Respawn Entertainment, father of Call of Duty, and current Battlefield boss has died in a serious traffic accident.
According to NBC Los Angeles, citing local authorities, Vince Zampella was killed in a car accident on Sunday afternoon (local time). The 55-year-old lost control of his Ferrari 296 GTS in the San Gabriel Mountains. The car crashed into a concrete barrier and immediately caught fire.
According to police, the accident occurred around 12:45 p.m. An unidentified passenger was thrown from the vehicle in the collision and later died in the hospital. Zampella himself was trapped in the burning wreckage; emergency responders could only confirm his death at the scene. Vince Zampella is survived by three children.
The father of modern shooters
It’s no exaggeration to say that you would be playing differently today if it weren’t for Vince Zampella. He was one of the few developers who revolutionized the genre multiple times.
His career is legendary: He founded Infinity Ward and defined the modern military shooter with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. After what was probably the most spectacular departure in the history of the industry, he moved to EA and founded Respawn Entertainment.
There, he proved with Titanfall how important movement is, gave us one of the best shooter campaigns with Titanfall 2, and provided real competition for the top dog Fortnite with Apex Legends. He is also responsible for the revival of Star Wars in the single-player sector (Jedi: Fallen Order).
This news is particularly bitter for Electronic Arts and all Battlefield fans among you. Zampella was not only the head of Respawn, but was also appointed “Head of Battlefield” in 2020 to save the struggling shooter giant. His last major work is Battlefield 6.
Reactions from around the world
The consternation on social media is huge. Numerous companions, fans, and colleagues are currently expressing their condolences.
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,… pic.twitter.com/M2NgyJRWu2
— Battlefield (@Battlefield) December 22, 2025
I cannot believe I am writing this.
Vince Zampella, a titan of the video game industry, the co-creator of Call of Duty and co-founder of Respawn Entertainment, not to mention a dear friend, died in a car crash yesterday in Los Angeles. pic.twitter.com/jW3bT88gsE
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) December 22, 2025
Vince Zampella was not just an amazing game creator. He was also a friend.
In absolute shock right now. Rest in peace to an absolute legend and giant of our industry. pic.twitter.com/acqJxlD1u1
— JP Kellams (@synaesthesiajp) December 22, 2025
EA now faces the difficult task of filling the void left by Zampella as the overall head of the entire Battlefield franchise. For now, however, the focus is on mourning a man who gave us some of the best shooters and most intense multiplayer moments of our lives.
