According to the NBC report, "the single-car crash was reported at about 12:45 p.m. on the road north of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Mountains. The southbound car veered off the road, hit a concrete barrier, and a passenger was ejected, the California Highway Patrol said. The driver was trapped in the ensuing car fire, the CHP said. The driver died at the scene, and the passenger died at a hospital, authorities told NBC4 Investigates."
NBC has updated its story to note that Zampella was the driver and the vehicle was a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS, and that an eyewitness provided video of the crash to authorities. The passenger has not yet been publicly identified.
Zampella co-created Call of Duty with Jason West in 2003 at Infinity Ward, after serving as lead designer on EA’s Medal of Honour: Allied Assault. He later found himself in a high-profile lawsuit with Activision over alleged unpaid Call of Duty royalties, and the split got nasty.
That bitter divorce ended with Zampella and West taking a sizeable chunk of the Infinity Ward team to EA, where they co-founded Respawn Entertainment. The studio then cranked out a run of hits, including Titanfall, Titanfall 2, Apex Legends, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Respawn’s success saw Zampella promoted twice at EA, eventually overseeing the Battlefield franchise as EA group general manager.
EA told IGN: "This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work. Vince’s influence on the video game industry was profound and far-reaching. A friend, colleague, leader, and visionary creator, he helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers worldwide. His legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come."
Infinity Ward, the Activision-owned Call of Duty developer, posted on Twitter / X: "Rest in peace Vince. As one of the founders of Infinity Ward and Call of Duty, you will always have a special place in our history. Your legacy of creating iconic, lasting entertainment is immeasurable. Our deepest condolences to Vince’s family and loved ones upon this terrible tragedy."
