The video game industry is in shock as the year draws to a close following the announcement of Vince Zampella’s death on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at the age of 55. As the co-founder of Infinity Ward and Respawn Entertainment, Zampella was considered one of the most influential architects of the modern action game, through his work on iconic franchises such as Call of Duty, Apex Legends, and Battlefield.

According to reports from the California Highway Patrol, confirmed by Electronic Arts, the developer lost his life in a road accident on the Angeles Crest Highway, near Los Angeles. The tragedy, involving a loss of control of his vehicle, also claimed the life of a passenger.

A legendary run

After getting his start at 2015, Inc., notably on Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, he founded Infinity Ward in 2002 with Jason West and the support of Activision. Together, they created Call of Duty, which redefined war games and is currently the third best-selling franchise of all time, behind Mario and Tetris, and ahead of Pokemon, Grand Theft Auto, and FIFA. The peak of this era for Infinity Ward came in the late 2000s with Modern Warfare (2007) and Modern Warfare 2 (2009). Their colossal success, with 20 and 25 million copies sold respectively, transformed online gaming into a mass phenomenon.

In 2010, his career took a historic turn during his high-profile firing by Activision for "insubordination." This major legal conflict led to the creation of Respawn Entertainment under the EA banner, which also attracted many Infinity Ward veterans unhappy with the departure of West and Zampella. Under this new flag, the duo proved their talent once again with the creation of Titanfall and Titanfall 2, even if sales figures never quite reached those of CoD. In 2019, EA and Respawn surprise-launched Apex Legends. This title successfully established itself during the height of its competitor Fortnite, eventually reaching over 100 million players and building a competitive scene that remains very active in 2025.

Tributes from the Industry

Geoff Keighley, creator of The Game Awards, shared his sadness on social media, stating: “Vince was an extraordinary person — a gamer at heart, but also a visionary executive with a rare ability to recognize talent and give people the freedom and confidence to create something truly great.”

Respawn also released a statement regarding the loss of its founder: “His impact reached far beyond any one game or studio. We will remember Vince for how he showed up every day, trusting his teams, encouraging bold ideas, and believing in Respawn & Battlefield. Most importantly, he championed what he believed was right for the people behind those studios and our players because it mattered.”

Despite past disputes and the history surrounding his departure from Activision, Infinity Ward expressed its grief over Zampella’s death, noting that his “legacy of creating iconic, lasting entertainment is immeasurable.” Activision shared a similar sentiment through its Call of Duty brand: “Millions of us have been forever inspired by Vince Zampella’s work. His legacy is enduring.”