Vince Zampella, a prominent figure in the video game industry known for his contributions to popular titles like “Call of Duty,” has passed away at the age of 55.
Electronic Arts, the video game company, announced Zampella’s death on Sunday. Although the company did not reveal the cause of death, various media reports suggest that Zampella was involved in a fatal car accident.
Zampella, who established Respawn Entertainment under Electronic Arts in 2010, was also the former CEO of Infinity Ward, the developer responsible for the successful “Call of Duty” series.
A spokesperson from Electronic Arts praised Zampella’s significant impact on the video game sector, describing him as a “friend, colleague, leader, and visionary creator.” The spokesperson highlighted Zampella’s role in shaping modern interactive entertainment and inspiring countless players and developers worldwide.
Among Zampella’s notable achievements was the creation of the immensely popular “Call of Duty” franchise, which has sold over 500 million copies globally since its debut in 2003. The series, initially focused on World War II scenarios, has expanded to explore modern warfare themes, with a movie adaptation currently in progress with Paramount Pictures.
In recent times, Zampella led the development of action-adventure games like “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order” and “Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.”
Geoff Keighley, a respected video game journalist and co-creator of the Game Awards, expressed shock at Zampella’s sudden passing. Keighley remembered Zampella as a remarkable individual with a deep passion for gaming and a talent for nurturing creative talent. Keighley lamented the loss of Zampella’s potential for creating groundbreaking games in the future.
