Vince Zampella, one of the most important people in the first-person shooter genre history, a key person behind the Call of Duty, Titanfall, Apex Legends, and Battlefield series, has died at age 55 after a car crash in Southern California.
NBC Los Angeles reported that the crash happened Sunday afternoon, Dec. 21, on Angeles Crest Highway north of Los Angeles.
Zampella leaves a legacy of undeniable greatness across the entire first-person shooter genre. He co-founded Infinity Ward and helped develop Call of Duty into one of the biggest gaming franchises on the planet, before leaving Activision and forming Respawn Entertainment, which later became part of Electronic Arts.
At Respawn, Zampella helmed a run of genre-defining hits: Titanfall, the mobility-driven mech FPS, Apex Legends, the ever-popular battle royale, and Star Wars Jedi, a return to successful single-player games set in a galaxy far, far away.
In recent years, EA put him in charge of revitalizing Battlefield following Battlefield 2042’s troubled launch, effectively placing one of the company’s most important franchises under his leadership.
Tributes have been pouring across the industry as the news spread, reflecting just how many developers and players were touched by his visionary direction. Geoff Keighley shared an especially heartfelt message on his socials:
Electronic Arts made a statement:
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.
Zampella’s former studio Infinity Ward also published a statement:
Dot Esports offers heartfelt condolences to Vince Zampella’s family and loved ones.
