Vince Zampella, one of the creators behind bestselling video games such as Call of Duty, has died. He was 55.<\/p>\n
\nVideo game company Electronic Arts said Zampella died Sunday. The company did not disclose his cause of death.<\/p>\n
\nIn 2010, Zampella founded Respawn Entertainment, a subsidiary of EA, and he also was the former chief executive of video game developer Infinity Ward, the studio behind the successful Call of Duty franchise.<\/p>\n
\nA spokesperson for Electronic Arts said in a statement on Monday that Zampella’s influence on the video game industry was “profound and far-reaching.”<\/p>\n
\n“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 statement said. “His legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come.”<\/p>\n
\nOne of Zampella’s crowning achievements was the creation of the Call of Duty franchise, which has sold more than half a billion games worldwide.<\/p>\n
\nThe first-person shooter game debuted in 2003 as a World War II simulation and has sold over 500 million copies globally. Subsequent versions have delved into modern warfare and there is a live-action movie based on the game in production with Paramount Pictures.<\/p>\n