Vince Zampella, Call of Duty co-creator, dies at 55 in car accident

Vince Zampella, the co-creator of the Call of Duty video game franchise, has died at the age of 55 following a car accident in Los Angeles, California, Electronic Arts (EA) confirmed.

Zampella was traveling in a Ferrari with one other person on a Sunday in July when the vehicle veered off the road, struck a concrete barrier, and caught fire. Both occupants were killed. Officials have not confirmed whether Zampella was driving, says the BBC.

Zampella co-founded Respawn Entertainment, an EA-owned studio, and was a prominent figure in the gaming industry. His career included the co-creation of Call of Duty in 2003 alongside Jason West and Grant Collier. The franchise has sold over 500 million copies and has inspired an upcoming live-action film.

Beyond Call of Duty, Zampella worked on several other successful titles, including Medal of Honor, Titanfall, and Apex Legends. After being fired from Activision in 2010 and settling a legal dispute in 2012, he moved to EA, where he most recently worked on Battlefield 6, a competitor to his original franchise.

Tributes from across the gaming industry highlighted Zampella's influence. Infinity Ward, the studio behind Call of Duty, said he would always hold a "special place" in their history.

In the world of game development, Zampella was recognized for shaping the modern action game experience, with his work influencing both players and fellow developers.