According to a recent report from NBC, Vince Zampella, co-founder and former head of Infinity Ward and co-founder of Respawn Entertainment, has died in a Ferrari car crash. Zampella was killed in a single-vehicle accident on Angeles Crest Highway in Southern California on December 21, 2025. He was 55 years old. The California Highway Patrol stated that the crash was reported at approximately 12:45 p.m. on the scenic road north of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Mountains. The southbound vehicle veered off the roadway, struck a concrete barrier, and caught fire. The driver was trapped in the ensuing fire and died at the scene, while the passenger, who was ejected from the car, later died at a hospital. Additional details about the cause of the crash have not yet been released.Â
Zampella was a pivotal figure in the video game industry. He co-founded Infinity Ward in 2002, where he helped create the Call of Duty franchise, one of the most successful and influential first-person shooter series in gaming history. Under his leadership, Infinity Ward developed early entries in the series, including Call of Duty (2003), Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Modern Warfare 2. After departing Infinity Ward in 2010, Zampella co-founded Respawn Entertainment with Jason West. Respawn went on to produce acclaimed titles such as Titanfall, Titanfall 2, Apex Legends, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. The studio was acquired by Electronic Arts in 2017, and Zampella later took on leadership roles including oversight of the Battlefield franchise at EA.
Stay tuned at Gaming Instincts via Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for more gaming news.
