ALBAWABA - Vince Zampella, a video game developer best known for co-creating the popular FPS Call of Duty, was tragically killed in a car accident in California at the age of 55.
According to the BBC, his death was confirmed by Electronic Arts, which owns Respawn Entertainment, a game studio best known for games such as Titanfall, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Apex Legends, which he also co-founded.
An Electronic Arts spokesperson said, "A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world."
She added, "His legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come."
Vince Zampella, man behind Call of Duty killed in car crash
Reports claim that Zampella was driving a Ferrari at high speeds with a passenger when he crashed on a highway in Los Angeles. Videos of the tragic incident flooded social media, capturing the moment when the vehicle crashed and caught fire.
Additionally, reports confirmed that both individuals died in the accident, but the passenger's identity remains unknown.
The California Highway Patrol told the BBC, "For unknown reasons, the vehicle veered off the roadway, struck a concrete barrier, and became fully engulfed."
Vince Zampella is best known for the creation of the Call of Duty franchise, which sold half a billion titles worldwide. Zampella then went on to create other projects under Respawn Entertainment, such as Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and its sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
The creator and host of the Game Awards, Geoff Keighley, wrote on social media, "Vince was 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."
He added, "I’ll miss our dinners and long conversations. And while he created some of the most influential games of our time, I always felt he still had his greatest one ahead of him. It’s heartbreaking that we’ll never get to play it."
