Call of Duty mastermind Vince Zampella killed in car crash on LA mountain road

Published 2 hours ago
Source: metro.co.uk
Vince Zampella at EA's "Battlefield 6" Reveal Celebration held at the Sunset Room on July 31, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
Zampella created the Call of Duty franchise (Picture: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

Video game mogul Vince Zampella has died in a Ferrari crash on a windy mountain road in Los Angeles.

The 55-year-old video game developer, who created the Call of Duty franchise, died on Sunday afternoon on Southern California’s Angeles Crest Highway.

Zampella was travelling in the car when it veered off the scenic road at around 12.45pm and hit a concrete barrier, NBC Los Angeles reports.

A passenger was reportedly ejected, while the driver became trapped in the ensuing car fire.

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 12: Vince Zampella, CEO of Respawn Entertainment, introduces the video game "Titanfall 2" during Electronics Arts news conference on June 12, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. Thousands are expected to attend the annual three-day Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) convention to see the latest games and announcements from the gaming industry. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Vince Zampella became the CEO of Respawn Entertainment (Picture: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

The driver died at the scene, and the passenger died in hospital. It is unclear if Zampella was the driver or passenger.

The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation.

Zampella was the former CEO of video game developers Infinity Ward when he developed Call of Duty.

The game is one of the biggest gaming franchises ever and has sold more than 500 million copies.

He went on to become head of EA-owned Respawn Entertainment.

Zampella was behind the release of Battlefield 6 in October for EA Games, which was met with critical acclaim.

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 13: CEO of Respawn Entertainment Vince Zampella at the panel for the 'Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order' video game during the Star Wars Celebration at McCormick Place Convention Center on April 11, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images)
Zampella’s Call of Duty has sold 500 million copies (Picture: Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images)

Donald Mustard, the co-creator of popular video game Fortnite, said he was ‘absolutely heartbroken’ by Zampella’s death.

He added: ‘Vince Zampella created and lead so much incredible entertainment and innovation in games over his legendary life.

‘My tears and condolences to his dear family, his friends, and his colleagues.

‘So grateful I got to see him last week. So grateful for the hugs and stories we shared.’

Southern California’s Angeles Crest Highway spans 65 miles (105km) and is a ‘scenic byway’ – a road primarily designed with the landscape in mind.

Angeles Crest Highway in California is famous for its landscape (Picture: Getty Images)

It winds its way towards the northeast through the Angeles Forest north of Los Angeles before ending at the ski resort of Wrightwood.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

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