Vince Zampella, a foundational industry leader who co-founded Infinity Ward and Respawn Entertainment, passed away in a car accident on December 21, 2025.
Zampella’s career was defined by his work on major franchises including Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, Call of Duty, Titanfall, Apex Legends, the Star Wars Jedi series, and the Battlefield franchise.
Industry leaders including EA’s Laura Miele, Microsoft’s Phil Spencer, and Bethesda’s Todd Howard honored Zampella at the 2026 DICE Summit for his ability to prioritize creative excellence and team culture over corporate bureaucracy.
Peers credited Zampella with a unique management philosophy that maintained studio independence and fostered talent within large organizations, influencing developers such as Hideo Kojima.
The gaming industry recognizes Zampella’s legacy as a model of servant leadership that emphasized trust-based, collaborative studio environments and consistent high-quality standards.
That's the gist.
Dive into the full report for the data, charts, and sources behind these takeaways.
Read the full report