The L.A. County medical examiner’s office said the video game developer died from thermal injuries and smoke inhalation.

Call of Duty co-creator Vince Zampella dies in car crash at 56

The L.A. County medical examiner's office said the video game developer died from thermal injuries and smoke inhalation.

By Daysia Tolentino

Daysia Tolentino

Daysia Tolentino is a writer at *. *She has written for * *since 2025. Her work has appeared in NBC News, Vulture, GQ, and InStyle.

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on April 21, 2026 4:20 p.m. ET

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Vince Zampella on July 31, 2025 in Los Angeles, Calif. Credit:

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

Video game developer Vince Zampella, best known for co-creating *Call of Duty*,* *died in a car crash Dec. 21. He was 56.

After exiting a tunnel in the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles, he crashed his Ferrari into a concrete barrier. Zampella died at the scene after getting trapped in the subsequent car fire, reported NBC Los Angeles. He was traveling with a passenger who died at the hospital.

Authorities disclosed an official cause of death for Zampella in April. According to the L.A. County medical examiner's office, Zampella died from thermal injuries and smoke inhalation, with blunt trauma listed as another significant condition. The manner of death was ruled an accident.

Zampella co-founded video game studio Infinity Ward in 2002. The company's first game was *Call of Duty*, which has gone on to spawn nearly two dozen titles and sell over 500 million copies worldwide. Zampella later co-founded and led Respawn Entertainment, a studio that has published game series like *Titanfall *and *Star Wars Jedi. *Respawn has been a part of Electronic Arts since 2017.

Vince Zampella at the panel for the 'Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order' at McCormick Place Convention Center on April 11, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois.

Barry Brecheisen/Getty

Infinity Ward paid tribute to its founder in a statement posted to social media.

"As one of the founders of Infinity Ward and Call of Duty, you will always have a special place in our history," the post read. "Your legacy of creating iconic, lasting entertainment is immeasurable.

Respawn Entertainment also shared a statement about Zampella's death on X, calling the developer a "titan and legend of this industry."**** The statement continued: "His impact reached far beyond any one game or studio. We will remember Vince for how he showed up every day, trusting his teams, encouraging bold ideas, and believing in Respawn & Battlefield. Most importantly, he championed what he believed was right for the people behind those studios and our players because it mattered."

Vince Zampella co-created 'Call of Duty,' which has sold over 500 million copies worldwide.

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Zampella most recently served as creative director for *Battlefield 6. *The first-person shooter game is the best-selling game of 2025 to date, according to market research company Circana.

Meanwhile, a *Call of Duty* film is in development. *Yellowstone *creator Taylor Sheridan and *Battleship *director Peter Berg have signed on to produce and co-write the script, with Berg also directing.

Zampella is survived by his three children.

[*This article has been with Zampella's official cause of death.*]

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