Battlefield Boss Vince Zampella Killed In Car Accident At Age 55

6 days ago 9

Covering the video games industry since 2017, with experience in news, articles, lists, and reviews (and I blame The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask for that).

If you are a fan of RPGs and want a third-person version: Tayná Garcia is a Brazilian journalist (but you can call her Tay) who ended up working with video games after finishing Zelda: Majora's Mask when she was a kid. With more than eight years of experience in the segment, she has been an assistant editor at Jovem Nerd in the past and is currently a contributor at DualShockers and a writer for gaming magazines for Editora Europa. Oh, and she may like Hideo Kojima a bit too much.

Sadly, the gaming world is ending the year with devastating news, as we have just lost one of the most influential figures behind the modern FPS genre.

Vince Zampella, best known as the creator of the Call of Duty franchise and the founder of Respawn Entertainment, passed away last Sunday afternoon, December 21. He was 55 years old.

According to information from NBC4 Investigates, Zampella was involved in a fatal single-car accident involving a Ferrari on Southern California's Angeles Crest Highway. The crash occurred around 12:45 p.m. on the mountain roads of the San Gabriel Mountains, north of Los Angeles.

Battlefield 6 To Skip Early Access When Releasing Globally

Authorities from the California Highway Patrol stated that Zampella was in a vehicle with two occupants that veered off the road and struck a concrete barrier. The driver was trapped as the vehicle caught fire and was pronounced dead at the scene, while the passenger was ejected from the car and later passed away at a hospital.

The exact cause of the accident is not yet known, and investigators are currently reviewing witness footage of the 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS involved in the crash to determine the circumstances.

The Architect of the Modern First-Person Shooter

Vince Zampella’s shocking passing leaves a massive void in the world of video games, as he was a groundbreaking developer who essentially redefined the modern FPS genre and inspired many titles of the genre.

His journey reached its peak in the 2000s when he co-founded Infinity Ward, the studio that gave birth to the global phenomenon Call of Duty and fundamentally changed the course of Activision's history.

Under his leadership, the franchise set new standards for cinematic storytelling and multiplayer experiences, with titles such as Call of Duty 2, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which are considered masterpieces that changed the industry and the genre forever.

Following his departure from Infinity Ward a few years later, Zampella’s passion for innovation remained as strong as ever. In 2010, he co-founded Respawn Entertainment, which was later acquired by Electronic Arts.

Survivor is going against Dagan Gera for the second time with both of their lightsabers drawn.

Star Wars Jedi Survivor Reportedly Outsold Star Wars Outlaws In 2024

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, a game released in 2023, managed to outsell Star Wars Outlaws in Europe last year.

At Respawn, his streak of brilliance continued unabated as he oversaw the creation of the critically acclaimed Titanfall series, which introduced groundbreaking mobility to shooters, and Apex Legends, one of the most dominant battle royales on the market today.

Zampella also expanded his reach into the action-adventure genre with the highly successful Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and took command of the Battlefield franchise in 2021, which saw a massive resurgence among fans this year with Battlefield 6 by successfully returning to the saga's roots.

[...] his streak of brilliance continued unabated as he oversaw the creation of the critically acclaimed Titanfall series [...]

The tragic news spread fast, leading to an immediate wave of grief and a sense of collective loss on social media and gaming forums, while fans and industry colleagues alike have begun expressing their condolences and paying tribute online.

Among them was Geoff Keighley, creator and host of The Game Awards, who shared his shock in a post on X (formerly Twitter). "I cannot believe I am writing this," he wrote, before sharing the news with the gaming community this Monday.

At 55, Zampella was one of the giants, a creative titan whose influence can be felt in almost every shooter played today, and his gaming legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire developers and players for generations to come.

His most recent gaming project, Battlefield 6, is currently available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via Steam, EA App, and Epic Games Store), and has been receiving many positive reviews from players and critics, alongside some awards as well, including Best Audio Design at The Game Awards 2025.