Vince Zampella, the visionary developer who created the trillion dollar Obligations franchise and ran studios behind huge hits like Apex Legends and star wars jedi died in a car accident.
The incident took place on Sunday, December 21, around 12:45 pm (local time) on the winding Angeles Crest Highway north of Los Angeles.
He was 55 years old.
The California Highway Patrol confirmed that the 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS heading south ran off the road and then crashed into a concrete barrier and was destroyed in a fire.
The driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, while the passenger (who was ejected) was taken to hospital.
However, it is not confirmed which of them is Zampella.
Zampella was an icon of the modern gaming industry. As co-founder and former CEO of Infinity Ward, he played a phenomenal role in launching Obligations series in 2003, starting a new era in the military shooter genre.
After a historic departure from Activision, he co-founded Respawn Entertainment in 2010, which he led until its acquisition by Electronic Arts (EA) in 2017.
Under his supervision, Respawn developed acclaimed titles including titan fall, Apex Legendsand star wars jedi series.
In 2021, his role expanded when EA put him in charge of the entire Battlefield franchise, where he was credited with directing its recent successful revival.
News of his car accident has shocked the gaming industry with tributes from colleagues and fans.
Details of the incidents are still under investigation.
