Vince Zampella, co-creator of the globally successful Call of Duty video game franchise, has died in a car accident in California. He was 55 years old.
Electronic Arts (EA), which owns Respawn Entertainment, the studio Zampella helped establish, confirmed his death on Sunday. The crash occurred on a Los Angeles-area highway while he was travelling in a Ferrari with another individual. The vehicle reportedly left the roadway, struck a concrete barrier, and caught fire.
EA described the loss as devastating, extending condolences to Zampella’s family, friends, and the global gaming community impacted by his work.
According to the California Highway Patrol, both occupants of the vehicle died at the scene. One passenger was ejected from the car, while the other remained trapped inside. Authorities have not confirmed who was driving at the time of the accident, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Zampella rose to prominence in 2003 after co-creating Call of Duty alongside long-time collaborators Jason West and Grant Collier. Inspired in part by World War II, the franchise grew into one of the most successful in gaming history, selling over 500 million copies worldwide and becoming a cornerstone of Activision, now owned by Microsoft. A live-action film based on the series is also in development.
Beyond Call of Duty, Zampella played a key role in developing other major titles, including Medal of Honor, Titanfall, and Apex Legends, shaping modern first-person shooter games for more than two decades.
Industry figures have highlighted his deep commitment to players and game quality. His focus on user experience, colleagues say, defined his approach and left a lasting impression on those who worked with him.
In 2010, Zampella and West parted ways with Activision and later settled a high-profile legal dispute with the publisher in 2012. He later joined Electronic Arts, where he was involved in the development of Battlefield 6, a major competitor to Call of Duty.
Infinity Ward, the studio behind Call of Duty, paid tribute to Zampella, describing his contribution to the gaming industry as historic and enduring.
About the author
Norway Crown Princess’s Son Jailed for Rape
Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted on two counts of rape and several other criminal offences by the Oslo District Court. The 29-year-old was cleared of two additional rape charges but found guilty of multiple offences involving violence, abuse and reckless conduct. Høiby attended the verdict hearing via video link due to health-related reasons and was not physically present in the courtroom. Prosecutors had sought a prison sentence of seven years and seven months, while the defense argued for a significantly shorter term of 18 months. His legal team has indicated that an appeal is likely. The case has attracted widespread attention in Norway because of Høiby's close connection to the royal family. Although he holds no royal title, he was raised alongside members of […]
Russian Strikes Damage Kyiv Cathedral, Kill 11
At least 11 people have lost their lives following a series of Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, including attacks that caused significant damage to Kyiv's historic Dormition Cathedral, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Four fatalities were reported in Kyiv after residential areas came under attack, while five emergency responders were killed in the northeastern city of Kharkiv while battling a blaze triggered by a strike. Ukrainian authorities said dozens of others were injured nationwide. The Dormition Cathedral, a landmark dating back to the 11th century and part of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, suffered extensive damage during the overnight assault. Zelensky described the attack as a serious blow to Ukraine's religious and cultural heritage. Images from the site showed a large breach in one section of the cathedral, with parts of the roof destroyed by fire. The […]
US-Iran Deal May Ease Global Economic Pressure
More than three months after the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran began, Washington and Tehran have reached a framework agreement aimed at reducing tensions and laying the groundwork for a longer-term resolution. A key component of the agreement is the planned reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important maritime trade routes. The waterway normally handles nearly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, making it critical to international energy markets. The disruption of traffic through the strait since late February triggered sharp increases in global energy prices and raised concerns about supply shortages. While the new agreement has been welcomed by markets, shipping activity in the region remains limited, highlighting the challenges involved in restoring normal operations. Industry experts caution that a full recovery will take time. Hundreds of vessels […]
Paul Kagame en visite de travail à Lomé
Le président du Rwanda, Paul Kagame, est en visite de travail au Togo ce lundi, dans le cadre de la Convention et exposition africaines du transport aérien organisée à Lomé du 15 au 19 juin 2026. Au cours de son séjour, le dirigeant rwandais doit rencontrer le président du Conseil, Faure Gnassingbé. Les échanges entre les deux responsables porteront sur plusieurs sujets d'intérêt commun, notamment le renforcement des relations bilatérales et les perspectives de coopération entre leurs pays. Cette rencontre intervient à l'occasion d'un événement majeur consacré au développement du transport aérien sur le continent africain. Elle offre également aux deux dirigeants l'opportunité de discuter des enjeux économiques et stratégiques qui concernent l'Afrique, ainsi que des initiatives visant à soutenir l'intégration et la croissance du continent. Reconnu pour son engagement en faveur du développement économique et de la transformation de […]
AFR100 : jusqu’à 50 000 $ pour les projets verts
Les organisations togolaises impliquées dans la restauration des terres dégradées et la préservation des ressources naturelles ont désormais accès à un nouveau mécanisme de financement dans le cadre du programme AFR100, soutenu par l'Organisation des Nations unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture (FAO). L'initiative, lancée à travers le dispositif des Subventions Directes aux Bénéficiaires (Direct Beneficiary Grants), vise à accompagner les acteurs locaux engagés dans la protection de l'environnement et la gestion durable des écosystèmes. L'appel à projets est ouvert aux organisations communautaires, coopératives, associations de producteurs agricoles et forestiers, organisations non gouvernementales ainsi qu'aux structures dirigées par des femmes ou des jeunes opérant dans les zones d'intervention du programme. Les bénéficiaires pourront obtenir un financement compris entre 5 000 et 50 000 dollars pour mettre en œuvre diverses initiatives environnementales. Les projets éligibles concernent notamment le reboisement, l'agroforesterie, la conservation […]
BTP au Togo : les entreprises alertent sur leurs défis
Les acteurs du secteur du bâtiment et des travaux publics (BTP) au Togo ont mis en lumière les principales difficultés qui freinent le développement des entreprises nationales lors des premiers « Media Days » organisés récemment à Lomé par le Groupement National des Entrepreneurs du Bâtiment et des Travaux Publics du Togo (GNEBTP-Togo). Placée sous le thème « Le BTP au cœur du développement : comprendre pour mieux agir », cette rencontre a rassemblé entrepreneurs, ingénieurs, architectes, laboratoires techniques et représentants des médias. L'objectif était de mieux faire connaître les réalités d'un secteur stratégique qui joue un rôle essentiel dans la réalisation des infrastructures et dans les investissements publics du pays. Au cours des échanges, les professionnels ont souligné plusieurs obstacles majeurs, notamment la qualité insuffisante de certaines études techniques, les retards de paiement, les difficultés d'accès au financement bancaire, […]
Related
Norway Crown Princess’s Son Jailed for Rape
Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted on two counts of rape and several other criminal offences by the Oslo District Court. The 29-year-old was cleared of two additional rape charges but found guilty of multiple offences involving violence, abuse and reckless conduct. Høiby attended the verdict hearing via video link due to health-related reasons and was not physically present in the courtroom. Prosecutors had sought a prison sentence of seven years and seven months, while the defense argued for a significantly shorter term of 18 months. His legal team has indicated that an appeal is likely. The case has attracted widespread attention in Norway because of Høiby's close connection to the royal family. Although he holds no royal title, he was raised alongside members of […]
Russian Strikes Damage Kyiv Cathedral, Kill 11
At least 11 people have lost their lives following a series of Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, including attacks that caused significant damage to Kyiv's historic Dormition Cathedral, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Four fatalities were reported in Kyiv after residential areas came under attack, while five emergency responders were killed in the northeastern city of Kharkiv while battling a blaze triggered by a strike. Ukrainian authorities said dozens of others were injured nationwide. The Dormition Cathedral, a landmark dating back to the 11th century and part of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, suffered extensive damage during the overnight assault. Zelensky described the attack as a serious blow to Ukraine's religious and cultural heritage. Images from the site showed a large breach in one section of the cathedral, with parts of the roof destroyed by fire. The […]
US-Iran Deal May Ease Global Economic Pressure
More than three months after the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran began, Washington and Tehran have reached a framework agreement aimed at reducing tensions and laying the groundwork for a longer-term resolution. A key component of the agreement is the planned reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important maritime trade routes. The waterway normally handles nearly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, making it critical to international energy markets. The disruption of traffic through the strait since late February triggered sharp increases in global energy prices and raised concerns about supply shortages. While the new agreement has been welcomed by markets, shipping activity in the region remains limited, highlighting the challenges involved in restoring normal operations. Industry experts caution that a full recovery will take time. Hundreds of vessels […]
Israel says it won’t withdraw troops from Lebanon, Syria, Gaza
Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz has declared that Israeli troops will remain indefinitely in "security zones" in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria, marking a major policy shift in the country's military approach to border security. Katz emphasized that unlike previous instances, the Israeli military is not retreating from areas that have been cleared and taken, stating that troops will remain in the security zones acting as a buffer between adversaries and Israeli communities "regardless of whether the situation in Gaza is temporary or permanent" – similar to the approach in Lebanon and Syria. The defense minister's announcement comes after Israel unilaterally expanded its frontiers in the war unleashed by Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack, and the military strengthens its control over various occupied regions. Israel says it must maintain control of what it refers to as security zones to […]
US-Iran set to sign peace deal Friday
A major breakthrough in Middle East diplomacy has been achieved as the United States and Iran have reached a peace deal, with the formal signing ceremony scheduled for Friday, June 19, in Switzerland. The agreement, which came after over 100 days of conflict that ignited a worldwide energy crisis and cast a shadow over the global economic landscape, is expected to mark the end of months of military tensions and pave the way for reopening the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the peace deal will be officially signed in Switzerland on Friday, June 19, with both sides working toward electronic signing preparations. US and Iranian officials confirmed on Sunday that they have agreed on a framework to end months of war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and lift the US blockade on Iran. […]
Crude oil prices fall as US-Iran peace deal boosts global markets
Global crude oil prices have plunged after the United States and Iran reportedly reached a landmark peace agreement, easing fears of prolonged conflict in the Middle East and boosting investor confidence across global markets. Brent crude, the primary benchmark for worldwide oil prices, fell 3.4% to $87.30 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude declined 3.2% to $84.88 a barrel. Front-month Brent crude futures had decreased by 4.3%, settling at $86.50 per barrel, while front-month WTI crude futures also dropped by 4.3%, now at $83.76 per barrel. The market reaction follows President Donald Trump's announcement that the U.S. has agreed to a peace deal with Iran, allowing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and removing oil sanctions on Iran. This development has reduced concerns over oil supply disruptions from the region and eased fears that the conflict would […]