Prolific game designer Vince Zampella died Sunday afternoon in a Ferrari crash on Angeles Crest Highway, north of Los Angeles.
The Fatal Crash
The single-car accident was reported at about 12:45 p.m. on the winding two-lane road in the San Gabriel Mountains. The southbound Ferrari veered off the road just after exiting a tunnel, hit a concrete barrier, and a passenger was ejected, the California Highway Patrol said.
Zampella was trapped in the ensuing car fire and died at the scene, while the passenger died at a hospital. The passenger’s identity was not immediately available.
A witness provided video to authorities showing a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS slamming into the barrier. The six-figure, mid-engine sports car is powered by a hybrid twin-turbo V-6 capable of 819-plus horsepower.
About Vince Zampella
Zampella, 55, co-founded Chatsworth-based Respawn Entertainment in 2010, which was acquired by EA in 2017. He previously served as CEO of Infinity Ward, the studio behind the Call of Duty franchise. Respawn is best known for Titanfall, Titanfall 2, Apex Legends and STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order. He also led an EA studio team in Playa Vista behind the Battlefield franchise.
Reactions
“He really knew how to create stories and create experiences that really hit at the heart of the human experience, whether it’s terror, dread, heroism,” said Washington Post video game critic Gene Park, who has met Zampella. “I think he was really able to kind of encapsulate that through the designs of the video games he made. He was a very, very humble person. He was very well aware of the impact that he made on people, and he never took it for granted.”
EA released a statement calling Zampella’s impact on the video game industry “profound and far-reaching.” The statement read: “This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work. Vince’s influence on the video game industry was profound and far-reaching. A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world. His legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come.”
Key Takeaways
- Fatal Ferrari crash on Angeles Crest Highway killed 55-year-old Vince Zampella.
- Zampella was co-founder of Respawn Entertainment and former Infinity Ward CEO.
- EA and the gaming community mourn his loss, highlighting his profound influence on the industry.
The incident has left the gaming world mourning the loss of a visionary creator whose work shaped modern interactive entertainment.
