Zampella died in a single-vehicle accident when his Ferrari crashed into a barrier north of Los Angeles, according to NBC4. Zampella heads up large studios Infinity Ward and Respawn Entertainment.
Call of Duty has non-binary features. Kimber London modeled them.
Kimber London is the model for Call of Duty’s first non-binary character.
Vince Zampella, the video game developer behind the hit “Call of Duty” series, died in a car accident while driving a Ferrari in California, according to news reports.
Zampera, whose studio Infinity Ward helped make the Call of Duty series one of the most popular video games around the world, died on Sunday, Dec. 21, in a car accident on the Angeles Crest Highway in Southern California, according to NBC4 Los Angeles.
Electronic Arts, the game studio where Zampella developed several games including “Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order,” confirmed Zampella’s death in a statement shared with USA TODAY.
“This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts go out to Vince’s family, his loved ones, and everyone touched by his work,” the company said.
Zampella, 55, died in a single-vehicle crash on the scenic two-lane highway north of Los Angeles at about 12:45 p.m., when his car veered off the road and crashed into a concrete barrier. The car was engulfed in flames, the passenger was thrown from the vehicle and the driver remained trapped, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Officer Chanel Phillips said both men died from their injuries. A Highway Patrol spokesperson said it’s unclear what caused the car to leave the road.
Key Infinity Ward games that come with Zampella include Call of Duty 2, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
Zampella is also known for leading Respawn Entertainment, the development studio behind games such as Apex Legends, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
“Vince’s influence on the video game industry was deep and far-reaching,” Electronic Arts said. “A friend, colleague, leader, and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world. His legacy will continue to shape the way games are made and players connect for generations to come.”
“Giant”: The gaming world’s reaction
Geoff Keighley, organizer and founder of The Game Awards, called Zampella a “giant of the video game industry.”
“Vince was an extraordinary person. He was a gamer at heart, but also a visionary executive with a rare ability to recognize talent and give people the freedom and confidence to create something truly great,” Cayley said in a statement. “He produced some of the most influential games of our time, and I always felt his best game was yet to come. It’s heartbreaking that we won’t be able to play it.”
In a short statement, Stephen Totillo, a prominent gaming journalist, called Zampella “a gaming leader who has always struck me as refreshingly humble.”
Totillo cited recent words from Zampella about how focusing on the story behind each game has been the key to his success.
According to Totillo, Zampella said, “That’s what always comes back…The story can be great, and it has to be great.” “If it doesn’t feel good, who cares? You might as well watch a show on Disney Plus or something. So we have to bring our element to it. And that’s the feel, the feel of it. It has to feel good.”
