Vince Zampella, Creator of 'Call of Duty' and 'Apex Legends,' Dies at 55

Vince Zampella, the visionary game developer who co-created and led some of the world's most popular first-person shooter franchises, has died in a car crash. He was 55. The incident occurred on a Los Angeles highway on Sunday, December 21, at 12:45 pm Pacific time, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Details of the Accident

The California Highway Patrol reported that Zampella was in a vehicle on Angeles Crest Highway when it veered off the road and struck a concrete barrier. Officials confirmed it was a single-vehicle crash and that no other cars were involved.

Following the impact, the vehicle caught fire. One passenger was reportedly ejected, while the driver was trapped inside. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, and the passenger later died after being transported to a hospital. The report did not specify whether Zampella was the driver or the passenger.

A Titan of the Gaming Industry

Zampella's career fundamentally shaped the modern shooter genre. As a co-founder of Infinity Ward, he was a driving force behind the creation of the blockbuster franchise. He later founded Respawn Entertainment, where he helmed the critically acclaimed series and the massively popular battle royale game, . His work has been played and celebrated by hundreds of millions of gamers worldwide.