Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Electronic Arts confirmed that Vince Zampella, the co-creator of Call of Duty and co-founder of Respawn Entertainment, died after a car crash on Angeles Crest Highway in Los Angeles County on December 21, 2025. The California Highway Patrol said the vehicle left the road for unknown reasons, hit a concrete barrier and caught fire. Later reporting attributed his cause of death to the county medical examiner’s database.
What happened in the crash
The crash occurred on Angeles Crest Highway in Los Angeles County. The California Highway Patrol’s preliminary account, quoted by the Los Angeles Times on December 22, said that “for unknown reasons, the vehicle veered off the roadway, struck a concrete barrier, and became fully engulfed.” The CHP said the passenger was ejected and the driver remained trapped; both occupants died.
The CHP received a call at 12:43 p.m. and placed the crash at mile post 62.70. CBS Los Angeles reported it at about 12:45 p.m. near mile marker 62. Those are the respective outlets’ reported times and location descriptions; neither establishes a more exact consensus. The CHP account said the reason the vehicle left the roadway was unknown.
What was reported about Zampella’s cause of death
In an April 22, 2026 report citing the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner database, the Los Angeles Times said Zampella died of thermal injuries and smoke inhalation and also suffered blunt trauma. The report identified the other person killed as Zachary Marks, 38, and said Marks died of blunt force injuries.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems#1 Best Overall
- BONUS 2X OFFER — Purchase Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 at Amazon and receive 5 hours of Double XP.**
- PRE-ORDER BONUS — Pre-order and unlock the Hunter Killer Operator Skin and the Gilded Pearl Camo Pack.*
- GLOBE‑SPANNING CAMPAIGN — Fight across the Korean Peninsula, New York, Paris, and Mumbai in a high‑stakes narrative where global conflict escalates and survival depends on tactical precision.
- MULTIPLAYER BUILT ON CONTROL — Engage in grounded, precise combat where fluid movement, player choice, and refined mechanics give you greater control in every firefight.
- TACTICAL DMZ OPERATIONS — Deploy behind enemy lines as an off‑the‑books asset, making high‑risk decisions on objectives and extraction in a dynamic mode where every run counts.
The CHP’s preliminary account said it was unclear whether drugs or alcohol were factors. The cited reporting does not establish toxicology findings or explain why the vehicle left the road; it therefore does not support assigning fault or drawing conclusions from the crash circumstances.
How old was Vince Zampella?
Published reports disagree. The Associated Press and the Los Angeles Times’ December 22, 2025 coverage gave Zampella’s age as 55; the Times’ April 22, 2026 report, citing the medical examiner’s database, described him as 56. Without a directly resolving primary record in the cited reports, both ages should be noted rather than choosing one.
Rank #2
- The Best Shooter Experience on Console in 2017 - Daily Star
- An Explosive Return to its Roots - The Telegraph
- Call of Duty returns to its roots with Call of Duty: WWII a breath-taking experience that redefines World War II for a gaming generation
- Experience three different game modes: Campaign, multiplayer and co-operative
- Experience Call of Duty combat, the bonds of camaraderie and the unforgiving nature of war against a global power throwing the world into tyranny
Why Zampella mattered to video games
Zampella co-founded Infinity Ward with Jason West and Grant Collier. The studio released the first Call of Duty in 2003. Zampella and West went on to found Respawn Entertainment in 2010. His work and leadership were associated with Call of Duty, Titanfall, Apex Legends, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Battlefield, according to the Associated Press and the Times.
The AP reported that Call of Duty had sold more than 500 million copies worldwide. That is the figure reported by the AP, not a new independent sales count. EA’s statement, quoted by the Times on December 22, called Zampella’s influence on the industry “profound and far-reaching” and said: “This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work.”
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Game is playable on October 23, 2026. Digital code will be available on September 25th to redeem.
- BONUS 2X OFFER — Purchase Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 at Amazon and receive 5 hours of Double XP.**
- PRE-ORDER BONUS — Pre-order and unlock the Hunter Killer Operator Skin and the Gilded Pearl Camo Pack.*
- GLOBE‑SPANNING CAMPAIGN — Fight across the Korean Peninsula, New York, Paris, and Mumbai in a high‑stakes narrative where global conflict escalates and survival depends on tactical precision.
- MULTIPLAYER BUILT ON CONTROL — Engage in grounded, precise combat where fluid movement, player choice, and refined mechanics give you greater control in every firefight.
Rank #4
- BONUS 2X OFFER — Purchase Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 at Amazon and receive 5 hours of Double XP.**
- PRE-ORDER BONUS — Pre-order and unlock the Hunter Killer Operator Skin and the Gilded Pearl Camo Pack.*
- GLOBE‑SPANNING CAMPAIGN — Fight across the Korean Peninsula, New York, Paris, and Mumbai in a high‑stakes narrative where global conflict escalates and survival depends on tactical precision.
- MULTIPLAYER BUILT ON CONTROL — Engage in grounded, precise combat where fluid movement, player choice, and refined mechanics give you greater control in every firefight.
- TACTICAL DMZ OPERATIONS — Deploy behind enemy lines as an off‑the‑books asset, making high‑risk decisions on objectives and extraction in a dynamic mode where every run counts.
Rank #3
- Legacy Edition Includes: Infinite Warfare and Modern Warfare Remastered*;Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Blood and gore, drug reference, intense violence, strong language, suggestive themes
- Infinity Ward reaches new heights with Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, which returns to the roots of the franchise with large-scale war, epic battles, and cinematic, immersive military storytelling and takes players on a journey from Earth to beyond our atmosphere.
- Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare delivers something for every Call of Duty fan with three unique game modes: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies.
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is back, remastered in true high-definition featuring improved textures, physically based rendering, high-dynamic range lighting and much more to bring a new generation experience to fans.
- Team up with your friends with 10 of the iconic multiplayer maps from the online multiplayer mode that redefined Call of Duty introducing killstreaks, XP, Prestige and more in customizable, classic multiplayer modes.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
