Vince Zampella, 'Call of Duty' co-creator, dies after crash on Angeles Crest Highway

Vince Zampella, the video crippled developer who helped motorboat the wildly lucrative and enduring “Call of Duty” franchise and “Apex Legends” workplace Respawn Entertainment, has died.

A typical for Electronic Arts, which owns Respawn, confirmed Zampella’s decease Monday successful a connection shared with The Times. He was 55.

“This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and each those touched by his work,” the connection said. “Vince’s power connected the video crippled manufacture was profound and far-reaching.”

Zampella was 1 of 2 radical who died Sunday day successful a car clang on Angeles Crest Highway, NBC 4 reported. The California Highway Patrol said successful a Sunday quality merchandise that it received a telephone astatine 12:43 p.m. astir a clang astatine Mile Post 62.70 of the scenic drive, which reopened successful August aft a years-long closure owed to tempest damage. Officers responded to the country of the crash, and a preliminary probe recovered that a car had been traveling southbound when, “for chartless reasons, the conveyance veered disconnected the roadway, struck a factual barrier, and became afloat engulfed,” according to the release.

“The rider was ejected from the vehicle, and the operator remained trapped,” the CHP connection said. “Both parties succumbed to their injuries.”

CHP said Sunday it was unclear whether drugs oregon intoxicant were a origin successful the clang and did not merchandise the individuality of the deceased, pending notification of adjacent of kin.

Zampella was a formative fig successful the modern gaming scene. Alongside Jason West and erstwhile originative spouse Grant Collier, helium co-founded the archetypal “Call of Duty” studio, Infinity Ward, successful 2002 and released the archetypal installment of the first-person subject shooting crippled successful 2003. Activision acquired the workplace that aforesaid year. Since its inception, “Call of Duty” has spawned dozens of sequels and spin-offs crossed assorted consoles and platforms, astir precocious “Call of Duty: Black Ops 7,” released successful November.

He and West, aft an acrimonious divided with Activision, founded Respawn Entertainment successful 2010. Though West departed Respawn successful 2013 owed to unspecified household issues, Zampella remained caput of the studio, overseeing the instauration of titles including “Titanfall,” “Apex Legends” and “Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond.” Additionally, Respawn expanded its lineup with the story-driven “Star Wars” titles “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order” and “Star Wars Jedi: Survivor,” starring Cameron Monaghan.

Zampella besides led the L.A. subdivision of Swedish video crippled developer DICE, which was renamed successful 2021 to Ripple Effect Studios, and was appointed to oversee its “Battlefield” franchise.

“A friend, colleague, person and visionary creator, his enactment helped signifier modern interactive amusement and inspired millions of players and developers astir the world,” Electronic Arts said successful its statement. “His bequest volition proceed to signifier however games are made and however players link for generations to come.”

Zampella is survived by his 3 children, Quentin, 26; Kyle, 22; and Courtney, 19.