Respawn Entertainment co-founder and CEO Vince Zampella has passed away in a tragic accident. NBC4 reported that he was driving on Angeles Crest Highway on December 21st before veering off-road and crashing into a barrier.
The accident occurred at 12:45 PM and resulted in two fatalities – the driver died in the resulting fire, while the passenger, ejected from the vehicle, passed away later in the hospital. It’s unknown what led to the crash, although eye-witness video is available, showing Zampella’s vehicle, a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS, exiting a tunnel beforehand.
Zampella was 55 years old and an iconic figure in the industry. He co-founded Infinity Ward alongside Jason West and Grant Collier, which went on to create the massively popular Call of Duty franchise. Zampella and West would leave to found Respawn Entertainment, known for Titanfall, Apex Legends, and the Star Wars: Jedi series.
He would become CEO of Ripple Effect Studios, formerly DICE LA, and then oversee the Battlefield franchise. The latter would see a resurgence with the launch of Battlefield 6, which sold over seven million copies in its first three days.
