Vince Zampella, Call of Duty Co-Creator, Dies in Ferrari Crash

When news broke that Vince Zampella, the man behind Call of Duty, had died in a car crash just days before Christmas, it felt like losing a piece of gaming history. The 56-year-old Respawn Entertainment co-founder was behind the wheel of a red 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS on Angeles Crest Highway when the vehicle veered off the road, struck a concrete barrier, and burst into flames.

Age at death: 56 ·
Co-created series: Call of Duty ·
Company founded: Respawn Entertainment ·
Vehicle in crash: 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS ·
Accident location: Angeles Crest Highway, near Mile Post 62.70

Six key facts about Vince Zampella, one pattern: his career spanned two of the most successful game franchises in history, but his end came suddenly and with details still emerging.

Who was in the car with Vince Zampella when he died?

The California Highway Patrol reported that the red 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS had two occupants. Zampella, driving, remained trapped and died at the scene. A passenger was ejected from the vehicle and later succumbed to injuries at a hospital (Los Angeles Times). Initial news reports stated no other occupants, but the official CHP statement confirmed a second fatality. The passenger’s identity has not been released.

Was anyone else involved?

No other vehicles were involved. The CHP said the southbound Ferrari left the roadway, struck a concrete barrier, and became fully engulfed (San Francisco Chronicle). It remains unclear whether the passenger was known to Zampella personally.

The California Highway Patrol continues to investigate the cause of the crash.

Did Vince Zampella create Call of Duty?

Yes. Zampella co-created the Call of Duty franchise with Jason West while at Infinity Ward, the studio he co-founded in 2002 (Los Angeles Times). The first game shipped in 2003 and became one of the most successful first-person shooter series ever.

Role in Infinity Ward

As former CEO of Infinity Ward, Zampella led development of the early Call of Duty titles. After a falling out with Activision, he and West were fired in 2010, sparking a legal battle over royalty payments (Los Angeles Times).

Co-creation with Jason West

West and Zampella together founded Respawn Entertainment later in 2010, where they created Titanfall and later Apex Legends (San Francisco Chronicle). Zampella served as head of Respawn until his death.

What Ferrari did Vince Zampella crash?

The Los Angeles Times reported that the vehicle was a red 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS (Los Angeles Times).

Model and year of Ferrari

The 296 GTS is a hybrid plug-in sports car producing over 800 horsepower. It’s unclear whether the car was modified. The crash occurred on Angeles Crest Highway, a scenic road popular with car enthusiasts and notorious for high-speed accidents (Los Angeles Times).

“The road is known for amateur racing accidents — it’s a de facto race track on weekends” — frequent driver describing the Crest Highway to Reddit.

Reddit user

The pattern: high-horsepower vehicles on a twisting mountain road create a dangerous combination that investigators are examining.

Why did Activision fire Vince Zampella?

In 2010, Activision fired Zampella and Jason West, claiming they had breached their contracts by secretly meeting with Electronic Arts about a potential acquisition (Los Angeles Times).

Allegations of breach of contract

Activision alleged that Zampella and West had violated their employment agreements by negotiating with EA while still under contract. The fired executives filed a lawsuit seeking unpaid Call of Duty royalties and ownership of the franchise.

Lawsuit aftermath

The legal battle eventually settled, but Zampella and West went on to form Respawn Entertainment, which was later acquired by EA in 2017 for an estimated $455 million (San Francisco Chronicle).

The implication: the dispute that severed Zampella from Activision ultimately led him to create a studio that would become one of EA’s most valuable assets.

Who is Vince Zampella?

Vincent Walter Zampella II was a veteran game developer who co-created Call of Duty, co-founded Infinity Ward and Respawn Entertainment, and oversaw the development of Apex Legends. He died at age 56 in a fiery car crash on December 21, 2025.

Early life

Born October 1, 1969, in the United States, Zampella entered the game industry in the 1990s, working at studios such as 2015, Inc. before co-founding Infinity Ward in 2002.

Career milestones

• 2003 – Call of Duty released (Los Angeles Times)
• 2010 – Fired from Activision; co-founds Respawn Entertainment
• 2014 – Titanfall released
• 2017 – Respawn acquired by EA
• 2019 – Apex Legends launched

Death and legacy

Zampella’s death prompted tributes from across the gaming industry. The BBC obituary described him as “a hugely influential figure in the development of the modern first-person shooter” (BBC obituary).

“Vince was a visionary who shaped the way millions of people play games. His impact on the industry cannot be overstated.” — EA statement confirming his death to the Los Angeles Times.

Los Angeles Times

Timeline of Vince Zampella’s life and death

• October 1, 1969 – Born in the United States
• 2002 – Co-founded Infinity Ward
• 2003 – Call of Duty released
• 2010 – Fired from Activision; co-founded Respawn Entertainment
• 2017 – Respawn acquired by Electronic Arts
• December 21, 2025 – Died in car crash on Angeles Crest Highway
• April 2026 – Cause of death revealed by medical examiner (anticipated)

What’s confirmed vs. what remains unclear

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Frequently asked questions

For the gaming industry, the loss of Vince Zampella leaves a void in creative leadership that will be difficult to fill, especially as Respawn navigates its next chapter without the man who shaped two of the most successful franchises in history. For fans of Call of Duty and Apex Legends, the memory of his work remains their lasting inheritance.