Vince Zampella obit

Vince Zampella, video game developer behind ‘Call of Duty,' killed in Ferrari crash

Vince Zampella, former CEO of video game developer Infinity Ward and current head of EA-owned Respawn Entertainment, was killed in a crash on Angeles Crest Highway north of Los Angeles.

 

He was not on the list.

What to Know

Prolific video game designer Vince Zampella and a passenger were killed in a crash Sunday on Angeles Crest Highway in the mountains north of Los Angeles.

The Ferrari had just exited a tunnel on the winding two-lane road when it slammed into a concrete barrier and caught fire.

Zampella, co-creator of the 'Call of Duty' franchise, is a lauded figure in the video game industry and head of Respawn Entertainment.

Respawn Entertainment, owned by EA, is best known for the video games "Titanfall," "Titanfall 2," "Apex Legends" and "STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order."

Zampella also led an EA studio team based in Playa Vista behind the popular "Battlefield" video game franchise.

Video game developer Vince Zampella, whose studios have created several of the world's best-selling games, was killed Sunday afternoon in a Ferrari crash on Southern California's Angeles Crest Highway, NBC4 Investigates has learned.

Zampella, an acclaimed figure in the video game industry, is the head of Respawn Entertainment. The prolific designer is the former CEO of video game developers Infinity Ward, the studio behind the successful "Call of Duty" franchise.

The single-car crash was reported at about 12:45 p.m. on the scenic road north of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Mountains. The southbound Ferrari veered off the road just after exiting a tunnel, hit a concrete barrier and a passenger was ejected, the California Highway Patrol said.

The driver, Zampella, was trapped in the ensuing car fire, the CHP said. He died at the scene and the passenger died at a hospital, authorities told NBC4 Investigates. Details about the passenger's identity were not immediately available.

Details about what led to the crash off the winding forest road overlooking Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley also were not immediately available. A witness provided video of the crash involving a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS to authorities that shows the red car slamming into the barrier just after exiting the tunnel.

The six-figure, mid-engine sports car powered by a hybrid twin-turbo V-6 is capable of 819-plus horsepower.

Zampella, 55, co-founded Chatsworth-based Respawn Entertainment in 2010. The studio was acquired by video game giant EA in 2017. Respawn Entertainment is best known for the video games "Titanfall," "Titanfall 2," "Apex Legends" and "STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order."

"He really knew how to create stories and create experiences that really hit at the heart of the human experience, whether it's terror, dread, heroism," said Washington Post video game critic Gene Park, who has met Zampella. "I think he was really able to kind of encapsulate that through the designs of the video games he made.

"He was a very, very humble person. He was very well aware of the impact that he made on people, and he never took it for granted."

Zampella also led an EA studio team based in Playa Vista behind the "Battlefield" video game franchise.

In a statement, EA called Zampella's impact on the world of video games "profound and far-reaching."

"This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work," EA said in the statement. "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."

NBCLA has reached out to Zampella's family for comment. NBCLA also has reached out to Respawn Entertainment.