Vince Zampella, Battlefield head and co-creator of Call of Duty, has died

Vince Zampella, the head of EA’s Battlefield series, co-creator of Call of Duty, and co-founder of Respawn Entertainment, has died in a car crash on Southern California's Angeles Crest Highway.

The details:

• As reported by NBC Los Angeles on Monday, Zampella died when a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS veered off the road in the San Gabriel Mountains and hit a concrete barrier before catching fire. A second person was also killed inside the vehicle.
• Many gaming industry icons and studios have paid tribute to Zampella following the tragic news, recalling stories of the veteran’s kindness and drive over the years, including Hideo Kojima, Geoff Keighley, and Stig Asmussen. “This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work,” an EA spokesperson said in a statement. “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.”
• Zampella began his career as a graphic designer in the 1990s before working for companies including Atari and Sega. He led the design of Medal of Honor: Allied Assault at 2015, Inc., before co-founding Infinity Ward with Grant Collier and Jason West, going on to create Call of Duty. After a dispute with Activision over Modern Warfare 2 bonuses in 2009, Zampella and West founded Titanfall and Apex Legends studio Respawn Entertainment, which was later acquired by EA in 2017, with Zampella going on to oversee the Battlefield series in recent years.