Vince Zampella, Creator of Call of Duty Modern Warfare (2007) and Modern Warfare 2 (2009), Died in a Car Crash

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Call of Duty co-creator Vince Zampella passed away in a car crash in California. He was aged 55 at the time of death. Fans and industry leaders are mourning the loss of a visionary who redefined first-person shooters (FPS).

Vince Zampella Road Accident

Vince Zampella was travelling in a Ferrari with another person when it crashed and caught fire on a highway in Los Angeles. The incident took place on Sunday (December 21, 2025). Both people inside the vehicle died. 

Officials said the person in the vehicle's passenger seat was ejected while the driver remained trapped. It is unclear if Zampella was driving the car and who the other person inside was.

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"For unknown reasons, the vehicle veered off the roadway, struck a concrete barrier, and became fully engulfed," the California Highway Patrol said in a statement.

Response from Electronic Arts

Zampella's death was confirmed by Electronic Arts, which owns Respawn Entertainment, a game studio he co-founded. 

"This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince's family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work," said a spokesperson for Electronic Arts.

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“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,” Electronic Arts mentioned in a social media post.

Infinity Ward, the American company that developed Call of Duty, said Zampella "will always have a special place in our history.”

"Your legacy of creating iconic, lasting entertainment is immeasurable," the company said in a statement on X.

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Vince Zampella’s Contribution to Call of Duty

The video game developer created Call of Duty with his collaborators Jason West and Grant Collier in 2003.

It was partly inspired by events in World War II. The game has sold more than 500 million copies. It made Microsoft's Activision one of the most profitable gaming companies.

He was also behind other widely popular games, including the Medal of Honor, Titanfall, and Apex Legends.

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Zampella's Journey

Zampella and West were fired from Activision in 2010. The dispute was settled in 2012. Vince Zampella co-founded Respawn Entertainment, which was later acquired by Electronic Arts. He also worked on Battlefield 6 at Electronic Arts. It is seen as a direct competitor to Call of Duty.