The gaming world is in shock after the death of Vince Zampella, co-creator of ‘Call of Duty’ series. Zampella, 55, died in a single-car accident on California’s Angeles Crest Highway on Sunday.
According to NBC Los Angeles, the crash occurred around 12:45 pm, and both the driver and a passenger lost their lives, with Zampella among them.
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The mind behind ‘Call of Duty’
Vince Zampella’s name is synonymous with some of the most iconic games. He co-founded Infinity Ward in 2002 alongside Grant Collier and Jason West. There he created the ‘Call of Duty’ series.
Hits like ‘Modern Warfare’ (2007) and ‘Modern Warfare 2’ (2009) became household names. The franchise sold over 500 million copies worldwide.
But Zampella’s impact went beyond ‘Call of Duty’. He was involved in critically acclaimed titles like ‘Medal of Honor’ and later spearheaded ‘Titanfall’ and the multiplayer sensation ‘Apex Legends’ through his studio Respawn Entertainment. He founded it in 2010 under EA.
From gamer to industry icon
Zampella’s journey began in the mid-1990s as gamer and computer enthusiast. He once described himself as a casual ‘Counter-Strike’ player. But his talent and vision quickly elevated him to the top of the gaming world. In 2010, he was part of a high-profile lawsuit against Activision, the publisher of ‘Call of Duty’, over unpaid royalties.
Recently, he had taken the helm of EA’s ‘Battlefield’ series, with ‘Battlefield 6’ releasing to strong reviews in October.
Remembering a visionary
EA released a statement Monday night expressing their grief:
“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.”
Outside of work, Zampella was a family man with three children. His personal life had its ups and downs, including a divorce from his wife, Brigitte, in 2015.