Vince Zampella, Call of Duty Pioneer, Dies at 55

• Key Takeaways:

• Vince Zampella, co-creator of Call of Duty and founder of Respawn Entertainment, has died at 55.
• Electronic Arts announced his death but did not disclose a cause; EA called his influence “profound and far-reaching.”
• Zampella helped build a franchise that has sold more than 500 million copies since its 2003 debut.
• He led teams behind Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and previously served as CEO of Infinity Ward.

Overview

Vince Zampella, a leading figure in modern video games and a creator of the Call of Duty franchise, has died at 55. Electronic Arts confirmed his death and declined to provide a cause.

Career highlights

Zampella rose to prominence as a founder and executive at Infinity Ward, the studio behind Call of Duty. The first game launched in 2003 as a World War II shooter and evolved into one of gaming’s biggest global franchises.

In 2010 he co-founded Respawn Entertainment as an EA studio. Under his leadership Respawn produced major action-adventure titles including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and its follow-up, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

Impact of Call of Duty

Call of Duty became a cultural and commercial juggernaut, selling more than half a billion copies worldwide and expanding from historical settings into modern and futuristic warfare. The property has also crossed into other media, with a live-action film adaptation reportedly in production with Paramount Pictures.

Industry reaction

Electronic Arts issued a brief tribute that described Zampella’s influence on the industry as “profound and far-reaching.” The statement called him “a friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator,” and said his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment.

Geoff Keighley, co-creator of The Game Awards, wrote on social media that he was “shocked” by Zampella’s sudden death. Keighley called him “an extraordinary person — 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.”

Legacy

Zampella’s career bridged blockbuster commercial success and a reputation for creative leadership. From steering the growth of Call of Duty to launching Respawn’s narrative-driven Star Wars games, his teams delivered titles that shaped how players connect and how studios organize around large-scale productions.

As the industry processes his passing, colleagues and players are noting both the scale of his achievements and the personal mentorship he offered developers. His work will continue to influence game design and live-service franchises for years to come.