Vince Zampella, a renowned figure in the video game industry for his contributions to various first-person shooter games, has passed away at age 55. Local reports from NBC4 in Los Angeles indicate that he perished in a one-car collision on Sunday, which also claimed the life of another unidentified individual.
Throughout his career, Zampella played a pivotal role in developing several iconic FPS games. As a co-founder of Infinity Ward, he helped originate the Call of Duty franchise and oversaw its initial successful releases. Later, in 2010, he established Respawn Entertainment alongside partners, creating titles such as Titanfall, its sequel, and the battle royale hit Apex Legends. After Electronic Arts purchased Respawn, Zampella took charge of DICE's Los Angeles operations and directed the Battlefield series, whose latest entry, Battlefield 6, debuted earlier this year.
Electronic Arts issued this tribute following Zampella's passing: “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.”