REPORT: Vince Zampella, Creator Of Legendary Game Franchise ‘Call Of Duty,’ Dead In Fiery Crash

Vince Zampella, video game developer of the “Call of Duty” franchise, reportedly died Sunday in Ferrari crash on Southern California’s Angeles Crest Highway.

Zampella, 55, was a highly regarded figure in the video game industry as the head of Respawn Entertainment and former CEO of the studio behind several of the world’s best-selling games, NBC4 reported. Authorities received a report of a vehicle involved in a single-car crash at approximately 12:45pm.

The car was traveling southbound at the scene before veering off and striking a concrete barrier, leading to a passenger being ejected, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said. The CHP said the driver died on-scene, according to NBC4.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 31: (L-R) Vince Zampella and Brie Larson attend the BATTLEFIELD 6 reveal celebration hosted by Electronic Arts and Battlefield Studios at Sunset Room Hollywood on July 31, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for EA Entertainment)

The CHP said the driver was stuck inside the vehicle as it caught on fire. Officials told NBC4 that the passenger was transported to hospital where they later succumbed to their injuries.

Details about what led to the crash off the winding forest road overlooking Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley were not disclosed, according to the outlet.

A witness turned over video of the crash connected to a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS to authorities, NBC4 reported.

The vehicle is a mid-engine sports car with a hybrid twin-turbo V6 capable of churning out more than 819 horsepower, according to Ferrari Silicon Valley.

Zampella helmed the creation of “Call of Duty,” a globally popular first-person shooter game, while working at Infinity Ward, according to The Guardian. He was also involved in “Medal of Honor.”

Zampella was a co-founder of Respawn Entertainment in 2010, according to NBC4. Video game giant EA later acquired the studio in 2017, and Zampella would go on to run an EA studio team working on the “Battlefield” game franchise. (RELATED: Chuck Norris Announces Death Of Ex-Wife Dianne Holechek)

Respawn Entertainment is credited with the creation of “Titanfall,” “Titanfall 2,” “Apex Legends” and “STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order.”