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Gaming World Mourns Loss of Visionary Creator Vince Zampella at 55
The video game industry is reeling from the sudden passing of Vince Zampella, a pivotal figure behind some of the most iconic titles in modern gaming, including the best-selling Call of Duty franchise. Zampella, 55, died on Sunday, as announced by Electronic Arts, though the cause of death has not been disclosed.
Zampella’s impact on interactive entertainment was “profound and far-reaching,” according to a statement released by Electronic Arts on Monday. “A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world,” the statement read, adding that “his legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come.”
A true innovator, Zampella co-founded Infinity Ward, the studio responsible for the groundbreaking Call of Duty series, which launched in 2003 as a World War II simulation and has since sold over half a billion copies worldwide, expanding into modern warfare scenarios and even inspiring a live-action movie adaptation.
In 2010, Zampella went on to establish Respawn Entertainment, an Electronic Arts subsidiary, where he continued to push creative boundaries. More recently, he led the development of the critically acclaimed action-adventure games Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
News of his death sent shockwaves through the gaming community. Geoff Keighley, a prominent video game journalist and co-creator of The Game Awards, expressed his sorrow 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,” Keighley wrote. He lamented the loss of Zampella’s future contributions, stating, “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.”
Zampella’s contributions have undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the landscape of video games, influencing both the way games are made and the experiences of countless players globally.