New details have emerged about the December 21, 2025, car crash that killed Vince Zampella, the 55-year-old co-creator of Call of Duty and leader of Respawn Entertainment, along with a passenger. The incident involved a Ferrari veering off the road north of Los Angeles, highlighting the end of a career that shaped major FPS franchises like Titanfall, Apex Legends, and Battlefield.
Vince Zampella, executive vice president at Electronic Arts and head of Respawn Entertainment, died on December 21, 2025, at age 55 in a single-car crash in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles. California Highway Patrol and NBC4 reports detail that the 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS veered off the road at 12:45 p.m., struck a concrete barrier, and burst into flames. The driver was trapped and died at the scene, while the ejected passenger succumbed later at a hospital. Authorities have not confirmed if Zampella was driving or determined the cause.
Zampella's storied career began in the late 1990s at studios like GameTek, Atari, and SegaSoft. He was lead designer on Medal of Honor: Allied Assault in 1999 before co-founding Infinity Ward in 2002 with Jason West and Grant Collier amid tensions with EA—he once quipped, "The only reason that Call of Duty exists is because EA were dicks." The studio partnered with Activision to launch Call of Duty in 2003. Fired in 2010 over insubordination claims, Zampella and West settled a lawsuit and founded Respawn Entertainment, acquired by EA in 2017. Respawn delivered Titanfall, Apex Legends, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Jedi: Survivor. Zampella later led DICE's Los Angeles studio and the Battlefield franchise from 2021, with Battlefield 6 topping sales charts earlier in 2025.
The industry has rallied in tribute. Respawn's Patrick Wren said, “It’s hard to process this right now. He was such a force in the industry and for him to be just gone I still can’t believe.” Former Xbox exec Eric Neustadter added, “I was fortunate enough to work with Vince a few times, and it was always a pleasure. This sucks.” EA stated: “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.”
