Legendary FPS developer Vince Zampella has passed away

The industry titan was 55 years old

23 Dec 2025, 11:18 · TechRadar

News By Demi Williams published 23 December 2025

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Industry veteran Vince Zampella has died at the age of 55
He was involved in a car accident in Los Angeles on December 21
Zampella was best known as the co-creator of the Call of Duty series and the co-founder of Respawn Entertainment

Vince Zampella, an industry legend best known as the co-creator of Call of Duty and co-founder of Respawn Entertainment, has died at the age of 55.

According to NBC Los Angeles, Zampella was killed in a single-car crash that occurred on December 21. It took place on a road north of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Mountains.

"The southbound car veered off the road, hit a concrete barrier and a passenger was ejected," the California Highway Patrol said.

"The driver died at the scene and the passenger died at a hospital, authorities told NBC4 Investigates," the report reads.

It's now been confirmed that he was the driver of a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS, but the passenger has not been identified at this time.

Zampella co-created the massively successful Call of Duty franchise with Jason West in 2003 at their studio Infinity Ward, a series that went on to shape the first-person shooter (FPS) genre in gaming.

Infinity Ward has shared its own statement on X / Twitter following Zampella's passing, writing, "rest in peace Vince. As one of the founders of Infinity Ward and Call of Duty, you will always have a special place in our history.

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