Yesterday, the gaming community received the heartbreaking news of the passing of Vince Zampella, co-founder of Infinity Ward and head of Respawn and Ripple Effect at Electronic Arts. Zampella was involved in a car accident in northern Los Angeles, which also claimed the life of a passenger in the vehicle.
Zampella was a significant figure in the video game industry, beginning his career as the lead designer on Medal of Honor: Allied Assault. In 2002, he co-founded Infinity Ward, alongside Grant Collier and Jason West, where they developed the groundbreaking title Call of Duty, and its critically acclaimed sequel, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Following a split with Activision, he and West launched Respawn, known for the successful Titanfall series, Apex Legends, and two entries in the Star Wars Jedi franchise.
Since the announcement of his death, many industry figures have expressed their condolences and shared memories of their time with Zampella. It is advisable to exercise caution when searching for information on social media, as there have been reports of graphic content related to the accident that may circulate online.
John Romero: “RIP Vince Zampella. Your mark on the FPS genre is monumental, and I am shocked and sorry to see you gone so soon.”
Donald Mustard: “Absolutely heartbroken. Vince Zampella created and led so much incredible entertainment and innovation in games over his legendary life.”
“My tears and condolences to his dear family, his friends, and his colleagues. So grateful I got to see him last week and for the hugs and stories we shared.”
Many colleagues have reiterated how Zampella fostered a supportive work environment and advocated for his team’s well-being.
Jon Porter: “Vince Zampella was an amazing person who treated everyone with respect. He stood up for his team and created a studio culture that set high standards.”
Jen Salvesen: “The loss of Vince Zampella is massive. He changed the landscape of gaming forever for the better. RIP Vince.”
John Collingwood: “Vince was one of the greatest humans I’ve ever met. He stood up for everyone and cared deeply.”
Tributes have continued to pour in from friends and industry peers.
Randy Pitchford: “Vince was awesome—a true friend. Aloha, Vince.”
Katsuhiro Harada: “Vince reshaped modern gaming and left a lasting mark on the industry.”
Hideo Kojima: “This is heartbreaking. I will miss our conversations and his wisdom.”
Vince Zampella was 55 and is survived by his wife and three children.
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