Industry leaders react to the tragic death of Battlefield series head Vince Zampelladied in a car accident on Sunday, December 21.
Zampella is an industry veteran who played a major role in the creation of the Call of Duty franchise, whose credits go 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 served as 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 a legend in the industry, a visionary leader and a force that 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 has shaped generations of gamers and helped define what modern shooters and action games can be.”
The statement continues: “While his influence reached far beyond any one game or studio, we will remember Vince for the way he showed up every day by trusting his teams, encouraging bold ideas, and believing in Battlefield and the people who make it.”
We are heartbroken to lose Vince Zampella, a creative leader whose work shaped generations of gamers and helped define what modern shooters and action games could be. During his remarkable career, Vince has played a seminal role in franchises such as Call of Duty,… pic.twitter.com/M2NgyJRWu2December 22, 2025
Infinity Award also paid tribute to Zampella, tweeting the statement “Rest in Peace Vince” and adding: “As one of the founders of Infinity Ward and Call of Duty, you will always have a special place in our history.
“Your legacy of creating iconic and enduring entertainment is immeasurable. Our deepest condolences go out to Vince's family and loved ones on this terrible tragedy.”
Rest in peace, Vince. As one of the founders of Infinity Ward and Call of Duty, you will always have a special place in our history. Your legacy of creating iconic and enduring entertainment is immeasurable. We express our deepest condolences to Vince's family and loved ones on this occasion…December 22, 2025
Several more personal thanks came from industry leaders, including the director of Unity and a former executive of Xbox. Larry “Major Nelson” Griebexecutive producer xDefiant Mark Rubinhost of The Game Awards Geoff Keighleyand director of Warframe Rebb Ford.
“It's tragic. I always enjoyed working with Vince :(,” said Mushroom.
“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 an amazing mentor and friend. He will be greatly missed. My heart goes out to his family. Rest in peace my friend!
“Vince really cared about doing the right thing,” Keighley said. “And even while working for large organizations, he constantly strived to put players first—to prioritize experience, skill and the people who played the games.”
“Devastatement and incredible grief for Vince Zampella's family,” Ford said. “His journey and impact on the industry is how I began my career, and I will deeply mourn his loss.”
Zampella was 55 years old.
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