Gaming
Jan 23, 2026
Legendary game developer Vince Zampella, co-creator of Call of Duty and founder of Respawn Entertainment, has died in a fiery Ferrari crash in LA at age 55. Photo by: ABGN
Breaking: Vince Zampella, the guy who co-created Call of Duty and started Respawn Entertainment, passed away at 55. Reports say he died in a car accident near Los Angeles on December 21, 2025.

On Sunday afternoon, December 21, 2025, a Ferrari crashed on Angeles Crest Highway, near Los Angeles. It looks like the car went off the road and hit a barrier. Sadly, the car caught fire, and both people inside died.
Here’s what the police have confirmed:
It was only one car involved.
One person was thrown from the car.
The Ferrari was completely on fire.
Right now, the police haven't said who the passenger was or what caused the crash.
Vince Zampella was a big name in video games, who was famous for his work on the shooter games:
He co-founded Infinity Ward and helped kick off the Call of Duty series.
He started the company Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind big names like Titanfall, Apex Legends, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
He also worked on Battlefield games later on.
From Call of Duty to Apex Legends, Zampella’s ideas changed how shooters look and feel today.
Vince Zampella was more than just a name; he was the key figure in gaming, especially if you're into first-person shooters. The games he helped make:
Sold millions of copies around the world.
Set the standard for both serious and casual shooter games.
Inspired tons of players and other game makers.
His sudden death is a shock to the gaming world and the media.
All over social media and gaming sites, fans are:
Sharing their shock and sadness.
Remembering his work on Call of Duty, Apex Legends, and more.
Developers and players worldwide are posting tributes.
There are videos and chats about the crash online, but this post will only stick to the confirmed facts to be respectful to everyone impacted.
Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
Location | Angeles Crest Highway, near Los Angeles |
Vehicle | 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS |
Time | Afternoon, Sunday, Dec 21, 2025 |
Victims | Vince Zampella & Passenger |
Source | NBC Los Angeles & other news |
Vince Zampella’s work had a huge impact:
Call of Duty became one of the most popular game series ever.
Respawn Entertainment made Titanfall, Apex Legends, and the Star Wars Jedi games.
He was a key person in how modern FPS games are designed, how the community grew, and the start of esports.
Industry leaders are praising his vision after hearing about his death.
He was a very well-known video game developer who co-created Call of Duty and started Respawn Entertainment.
He died in a car crash on Angeles Crest Highway, where the Ferrari hit a barrier and then caught fire.
He was 55 years old.
He helped create Call of Duty, Titanfall, Apex Legends, and Star Wars Jedi games.