Photo credit: GAMEINFORMER

Vince Zampella, the celebrated co-creator of the blockbuster video game franchise Call of Duty, has died following a car crash north of Los Angeles, according to a report by Dawn.com. He was 55 years old.

Gaming giant Electronic Arts confirmed Zampella’s death on Monday. The veteran developer and executive reportedly died on Sunday while driving his Ferrari along a scenic route in the area, local broadcaster NBC4 reported.

According to authorities, the crash occurred under unclear circumstances.

“For unknown reasons, the vehicle veered off the roadway, struck a concrete barrier, and became fully engulfed,” the California Highway Patrol said in a statement, without identifying the two victims involved in the incident.

Zampella was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in modern gaming. As a co-founder of Infinity Ward, he helped launch Call of Duty, a franchise that would go on to sell hundreds of millions of copies worldwide and redefine the first-person shooter genre.

Beyond Call of Duty, Zampella later co-founded Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind Titanfall, Apex Legends, and the Star Wars Jedi series. At the time of his death, he was also overseeing major franchises under Electronic Arts, including Battlefield.

Tributes from across the gaming industry have begun to pour in, with colleagues and fans alike remembering Zampella for his creative vision and lasting impact on interactive entertainment.

His death marks a significant loss for the global gaming community, where his work shaped generations of players and helped define some of the industry’s most iconic titles.