The daughter of video game executive Vince Zampella has spoken publicly for the first time following her father’s tragic death in a high-speed car crash in Southern California.
Zampella, 55, a key figure behind the creation of the Call of Duty franchise, was driving a Ferrari when the vehicle veered off the road while exiting a tunnel on the Angeles Crest Highway.
Authorities said the car slammed into a concrete barrier and immediately burst into flames.
Zampella died at the scene, while a passenger who was ejected from the vehicle was rushed to hospital, where they later succumbed to their injuries, The Sun reports.
Video footage of the crash has since circulated widely online, showing flames erupting from the wreckage of a Ferrari 296 GTS just moments after impact.
The luxury sports car carries a retail price of approximately $385,000.
Zampella is survived by his three adult children – Quentin, 26, Kyle, 22, and Courtney, 19.
Courtney shared a brief but emotional tribute to her father on Instagram, posting a throwback photo alongside the caption: “My best friend. Forever and always.”
Just weeks before her father’s death, Courtney attended the Las Vegas Grand Prix, reflecting the family’s shared love of motorsports.
Zampella himself was an avid Formula One fan and had traveled to the Austin Grand Prix in October, where he posted photos from the starting grid and the Red Bull Racing garage.
Known for his passion for high-performance vehicles, Zampella also owned a rare McLaren P1 GT.
A self-made entrepreneur, Zampella dropped out of college to pursue a career in the video game industry before eventually founding his own studios.
He worked as a designer on the Medal of Honor series in the late 1990s and early 2000s, before leading the development of Call of Duty, which debuted in 2003, according to BBC News.
The franchise would go on to generate an estimated $35 billion in revenue over the following two decades.
At the time of his death, Zampella served as head of Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind Apex Legends, the Titanfall series, and the Star Wars Jedi games.
Tributes quickly poured in from across the gaming world, led by executives at Electronic Arts.
“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 company said in a statement.
“His legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come.”