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Industry leaders are reacting to the tragic passing of Battlefield series lead Vince Zampella, who was killed in a car accident on Sunday, December 21.
Zampella is an industry veteran who was instrumental in the creation of the Call of Duty franchise, with credits dating all the way back to 2002’s Medal of Honor: Allied Assault. He also co-founded Respawn and oversaw the development of Titanfall 2, Apex Legends and the Star Wars Jedi series. Under EA, Zampella was Head of Battlefield from 2021 until his death.
We are heartbroken by the passing of our founder and dear friend Vince Zampella. Vince was a titan and legend of this industry, a visionary leader and a force who shaped teams and games like Call of Duty, Titanfall, Apex Legends, the Star Wars Jedi series and Battlefield for our… pic.twitter.com/L51gG9tbRoDecember 22, 2025
Meanwhile, the official Battlefield Twitter account released a statement calling Zampella “a creative leader whose work shaped generations of players and helped define what modern shooters and action games could be.”
The statement continues: “While his impact reached far beyond any one game or studio, we will remember Vince for the way he showed up every day, trusted his teams, encouraged bold ideas and believed in Battlefield and the people who built it.”
We are heartbroken by the loss of Vince Zampella, a creative leader whose work shaped generations of players and helped define what modern shooters and action games could be. Throughout a remarkable career, Vince played fundamental roles in franchises including Call of Duty,… pic.twitter.com/M2NgyJRWu2December 22, 2025
Infinity Award also paid tribute to Zampella, writing in a Twitter statement: “Rest in peace Vince,” adding: “As a founding member of Infinity Ward and Call of Duty, you will always have a special place in our history.
“Your legacy of creating iconic, enduring entertainment is immeasurable. Our deepest condolences to Vince’s family and loved ones on this terrible tragedy.”
Rest in peace Vince. As a founding member of Infinity Ward and Call of Duty, you will always hold a special place in our history. Your legacy of creating iconic, enduring entertainment is immeasurable. Our deepest condolences to Vince’s family and loved ones at this…December 22, 2025
There were also more personal tributes from industry leaders, including Unity CEO and former Xbox CEO Larry “Major Nelson” HrybxChallenging executive producer Mark RubinThe host of the Game Awards Geoff Keighleyand Warframe director Rebb Ford.
“This is tragic. I always loved working with Vince :(,” Hryb said.
“I just saw that Vince Zampella died in a car accident yesterday. I had to read it several times to believe it,” Rubin noted. “He was a great mentor and friend. He will be deeply missed. My heart goes out to his family. RIP my friend!”
“Vince felt it was important to do the right thing,” Keighley said. “And even while working within large organizations, he consistently pushed to put players first – to prioritize the experience, the craftsmanship and the people who played the games.”
“Devastated and heartbroken for the family of Vince Zampella,” Ford said. “His path and impact on the industry got me started and I will deeply mourn his loss.”
Zampella turned 55.
