Hideo Kojima said that after the release of Metal Gear Solid 4 in 2008, he discussed with Vince Zampella the possibility of creating a shooter in the Metal Gear universe. The game designer announced this in a recorded address shown at DICE 2026 as part of a memorial panel dedicated to Zampella's life and legacy.
According to Kojima, the conversations took place during the period when Zampella left Infinity Ward and, together with Jason West, was creating a new studio. Among the ideas discussed at the early stage of Respawn's formation was a shooter based on Metal Gear. It never came to concrete development, the project remained at the stage of preliminary discussions.
Kojima also noted that he himself later turned to Zampella for advice when he left Konami and founded Kojima Productions. According to him, his colleague's experience in launching a new studio became an important benchmark for him.
«Without him, the gaming industry would not be what we know it today».
Phil Spencer, Geoff Keighley, Laura Miele, Todd Howard, Randy Pitchford, Ted Price, and other industry representatives spoke at the tribute on stage and in video messages. EA Entertainment President Laura Miele stated that Zampella "changed how games are made and, more importantly, how people feel in the development process." Xbox chief Phil Spencer noted his ability to inspire teams and set a higher bar for quality.
Vince Zampella died in a car accident in December. DICE participants emphasized that his contribution to the development of first-person shooters and the management culture of large studios was decisive for the modern industry.
