Vince Zampella, a key figure behind the creation of the Call of Duty games franchise, has passed away at the age of 55.
Electronic Arts (EA), the company responsible for publishing the renowned series, announced Zampella’s death on Sunday, although they did not specify the cause.
Subsequent reports indicate he was involved in a fatal car accident in Southern California.
According to NBC Los Angeles, the accident occurred around 12:45 PM local time in the San Gabriel Mountains, involving a Ferrari in a single-car crash.
“For unknown reasons, the vehicle veered off the roadway, struck a concrete barrier, and became fully engulfed,” stated the California Highway Patrol, noting the car caught fire upon impact.
As reported by the BBC, authorities mentioned that the individual in the passenger seat was ejected from the car while the driver was trapped inside.
It remains unknown whether Zampella was the driver or who the passenger was, but both individuals were pronounced dead at the scene.
Zampella was a significant figure in the gaming world, having established Respawn Entertainment, an EA subsidiary, in 2010.
He also served as the former chief executive of Infinity Ward, the studio responsible for the Call of Duty series.
In a statement about his impact, a representative from EA Games described Zampella’s contributions to the gaming industry as ‘far-reaching and profound,’ adding that his work would continue to influence the development of future games.
“A friend, colleague, leader, and visionary creator, his efforts helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired countless players and developers globally,” the spokesperson commented.
“His legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come.”
Call of Duty is recognized as one of the most popular gaming franchises worldwide, establishing itself as a beloved first-person shooter series.
With a broad international reach, the franchise boasts over 100 million monthly active users and recently recorded 250 million annual players.
The game launched in 2003, initially set in the World War II era, but has since evolved to include modern warfare themes in its updates.
A movie adaptation of the game is reportedly in the planning stages.
While Call of Duty is perhaps Zampella’s most famous work, he also played a key role in other popular games, including the action-adventure titles Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
His involvement extended to other successful games like Medal of Honor, Titanfall, and Apex Legends.