Vince Zampella, the 55-year-old co-creator of the hugely popular "Call of Duty" video game franchise, died Sunday, December 21, in a fiery car crash on Angeles Crest Highway in Los Angeles. The accident also claimed the life of an unidentified passenger. Zampella was driving a red 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS when it veered off the road, struck a concrete barrier, and became engulfed in flames.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]} ### Tragic Accident Details Emerge The fatal crash occurred around 12:45 p.m. near mile marker 62 in an unincorporated area close to Altadena, California.^[1][2][5] California Highway Patrol officers were alerted to the incident by an emergency services request from an Apple device via satellite.^[1] For reasons still under investigation, Zampella's vehicle veered off the roadway after exiting a tunnel and collided with a concrete barrier.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} The impact caused the Ferrari to burst into flames, trapping Zampella inside.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]} He was pronounced dead at the scene.^[1][6] A passenger in the vehicle was ejected during the crash and later died after being transported to a nearby hospital.^{[1][2][5][6][7]} Authorities have not yet released the identity of the passenger.^[5][7] ### A Gaming Industry Titan Vince Zampella was a defining force in the video game industry for decades. He was best known as a co-founder of Infinity Ward, the studio responsible for the "Call of Duty" franchise.^[1][8][3] The first "Call of Duty" game debuted in 2003 as a World War II simulation and has since sold over 500 million copies globally.^[8] The franchise significantly shaped the first-person shooter (FPS) genre in gaming.^[7] After leaving Infinity Ward, Zampella co-founded Respawn Entertainment in 2010.^[1][8][3] Electronic Arts acquired Respawn Entertainment in 2017.^[1][3] Under his leadership, Respawn developed critically acclaimed titles like "Titanfall," "Apex Legends," "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order," and "Star Wars Jedi: Survivor."^[3][6][7] These games brought success across various genres, from multiplayer live service to single-player adventure.^[6] More recently, Zampella was appointed to lead the Los Angeles branch of Swedish video game developer DICE, which was renamed Ripple Effect Studios in 2021.^[2][3] He also oversaw the "Battlefield" franchise.^[2][3][6] His diverse contributions spanned some of the most influential and successful game series in modern interactive entertainment.^[3][6] ### Industry Mourns Profound Loss News of Zampella's sudden death sent shockwaves through the gaming community. Electronic Arts released a statement calling his passing "an unimaginable loss."^[1][4][9] The company added that Zampella's "influence on the video game industry was profound and far-reaching."^[8][2][4][5] "A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world," EA stated.^[8][2][4][5] Infinity Ward also shared a tribute, stating that Zampella would "always have a special place in our history."^[1] The studio recognized his "legacy of creating iconic, lasting entertainment" as immeasurable.^[1][3] Respawn Entertainment posted on social media that they were "heartbroken by the passing of our founder and dear friend Vince Zampella."^[7] They remembered him as a "titan and legend of this industry" and a "visionary leader."^[7] Geoff Keighley, a prominent video game journalist and co-creator of The Game Awards, expressed his shock. Keighley described Zampella as "an extraordinary person — a gamer at heart, but also a visionary executive with a rare ability to recognize talent." H^[8]e noted that Zampella "cared deeply about doing the right thing" and "consistently pushed to put players first." K^[6]eighley added that Zampella's legacy would continue to shape how games are made for generations to come. ^[8]Zampella is survived by his three children: Quentin, 26; Kyle, 22; and Courtney, 19. H^[2][9]is children posted heartfelt tributes to their father on social media following his death. V^[9]ince Zampella's innovative spirit and dedication to game development have left an indelible mark on the industry.

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