Vince Zampella, one of the creative minds behind the best-selling Call of Duty series, has passed away at the age of 55.
Electronic Arts confirmed Zampella's death on Sunday, though the company did not disclose the cause.
Zampella founded Respawn Entertainment, a subsidiary of EA, in 2010. He also previously served as the chief executive of Infinity Ward, the studio responsible for the highly successful Call of Duty franchise.
A spokesperson for Electronic Arts praised Zampella's contributions, stating his impact on the gaming world was "profound and far-reaching."
"A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world. His legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come," the spokesperson added.
Among Zampella's most notable achievements was the creation of the Call of Duty series, which has sold over 500 million copies globally. The first-person shooter launched in 2003 as a World War II simulation, later expanding to modern warfare scenarios. A live-action movie adaptation is also in production with Paramount Pictures.
In recent years, Zampella led the development of the action-adventure titles Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Video game journalist Geoff Keighley, co-creator of The Game Awards, expressed his shock over Zampella's sudden passing.
"Vince was an extraordinary person -- a gamer at heart, but also a visionary executive with a rare ability to recognise talent and give people the freedom and confidence to create something truly great," Keighley wrote on social media.
"I'll miss our dinners and long conversations. And while he created some of the most influential games of our time, I always felt he still had his greatest one ahead of him. It's heartbreaking that we'll never get to play it," he added.
AP