The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley comments on the death of Vince Zampella

I can’t believe I’m writing this. Vince Zampella, a titan of the video game industry, co-creator of Call of Duty and co-founder of Respawn Entertainment, not to mention a dear friend, died yesterday in a car accident in Los Angeles. Vince was an extraordinary person — a gamer at heart, but also a visionary leader with a rare ability to recognize talent and give people the freedom and confidence to create something truly great. I saw this up close working on The Final Hours of Titanfall. I will always be deeply grateful to him for trusting me to tell the story of the company’s founding. Even when it was difficult or uncomfortable, Vince never wavered from his commitment to honesty and transparency. He believed that the truth matters and was willing to share it with the world. Vince cared deeply about doing the right thing. And even while working in large organizations, he constantly strived to put players first — to prioritize the experience, the skill, and the people who play the games. He left behind an incredible legacy. I will miss our dinners and long conversations. And while he created some of the most influential games of our time, I always felt that his greatest game was yet to come. It’s a shame we’ll never get to play it.