In a shocking upset for the gaming industry, video game developer, CEO, and multi-studio founder Vince Zampella was killed in a fiery single-car crash near Los Angeles, California.
Zampella, 55, was the driver of the 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS, and veered off the road after exiting a tunnel in the Angeles Crest Highway, slamming into a concrete barrier. Zampella was pronounced dead at the scene, while a passenger was thrown from the car and pronounced dead at the hospital. The passenger’s identity has not yet been revealed.
Zampella began his gaming career in the 90s where he met Jason West. The two developers would go on to co-found Infinity Ward (with Grant Collier) in 2002, where they developed the seminal first-person shooter series, Medal of Honor, which spun into its even more successful offspring, Call of Duty.
In 2010, following the release of the massively successful Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Zampella and West made headlines with contract disputes and negotiations with parent company, Activision. The pair went on to found independent studio, Respawn Entertainment, developing Titanfall, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Apex Legends.
In 2017, Respawn was acquired by Electronic Arts, and in 2021, Zampella would take charge of EA’s Battlefield series at Ripple Effect Studios (formerly DICE LA), releasing Battlefield 6 in 2025. Battlefield 6 was a critical and commercial success, becoming the series’ biggest launch in history, and winning Best Audio Design at The Game Awards.
Zampella carved a massively successful genre with realistic first-person shooters, and successfully heading huge, multi-million AAA game development studios with multiple best-selling games. EA put out the following statement via social media:
This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work. 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.
