Remembering Vince Zampella: From Call of Duty to Battlefield – A video game titan

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Vince Zampella has created some incredibly successful games, including franchises like Medal of Honor, Battlefield, Call of Duty, and Titanfall. However, he’s more than just a game developer; he’s known as a powerful and determined leader who always strives for improvement, even after achieving significant success.

Talking to Vince felt completely natural – like catching up with an old friend. Whether discussing Star Wars on Disney+ or the latest in gaming, he was down-to-earth and treated everyone as an equal, without any sense of superiority.

In just 55 years, he accomplished more than most people could achieve in many lifetimes. His guidance influenced the lives of hundreds, possibly thousands, of people at different studios, and his teams’ work significantly shaped the entertainment industry and popular culture, reaching millions around the world.

You wouldn’t guess any of that when you talked to him, though. Vince didn’t boast about what he’d achieved. He was always focused on what was coming next instead.

People in the industry often agree that Vince didn’t just become wealthy – he truly transformed things and left a significant mark on the world. This raises the question: why did he keep pushing himself, taking on incredibly demanding jobs? The answer is simple: Vince was driven by a different kind of ambition than most of us.

Storming the beach

After completing several smaller projects, Zampella got his big opportunity when Steven Spielberg contacted him. Following the success of Saving Private Ryan, the famous director wanted to create a World War II video game, and that’s when 2015, Inc. – a small but talented American game development team – became involved.

As Development Director, Zampella guided a small team of mostly inexperienced but talented game modders to create one of the most highly-regarded Medal of Honor titles.

The D-Day assault on Omaha Beach was first brought to life in the 2002 game Allied Assault, and it’s now considered a defining moment in first-person shooter history. However, that was only one piece of what made the game special.

Medal of Honor: Allied Assault was incredibly successful, attracting attention from many, including Steven Spielberg. Following disagreements with EA, the game’s creators left to join Activision, where they went on to create a hugely popular gaming franchise.

The Medal of Honor killer

The first Call of Duty game launched in 2003 and quickly became a major force in the gaming world. Created by a team that would later become Infinity Ward, the realistic World War II shooter initially aimed to compete directly with EA’s popular ‘Medal of Honor’ series – some even referred to it internally as the ‘Medal of Honor killer.’

The game didn’t just succeed – it launched a hugely popular and enduring gaming series. Expanding the setting from World War II to modern conflicts broadened its appeal, and it quickly became a cultural icon. We believe it remains the greatest first-person shooter of all time.

With each new Call of Duty release in the following years, the gaming industry anticipated massive sales. The 2009 game, Modern Warfare 2, earned over $500 million in its first week, becoming the biggest entertainment launch ever at that point in time.

Frank Zampella was a key leader during the most successful years of the Call of Duty franchise. However, he was unexpectedly fired from Activision and lost out on an estimated $36 million in potential bonuses. Zampella and Call of Duty’s director, Jason West, quickly filed a lawsuit against Activision and then moved on to start a new project. They didn’t waste any time.

Ejecting into the next big hits

In just a few weeks, Zampella and West launched Respawn Entertainment, a studio now famous for its successful games. After creating one hit game after another, what would they do next?

Without delay, Zampella and his team started working on a new kind of shooting game. This effort produced the two Titanfall games – fast-paced action combined with powerful, summonable mechs – and Apex Legends, a groundbreaking Battle Royale title that remains popular with millions of players.

It wasn’t just that he understood the entertainment industry; he had a remarkable ability to predict what audiences would enjoy, often before anyone else did.

The success of each groundbreaking shooter isn’t accidental. People who worked with Jason Zampella describe him as having a clear vision, which he communicated effectively. This allowed developers from all areas to do their best work, as he knew exactly what he wanted and how to guide teams to achieve it.

This became especially clear when his studio, still fairly new, shifted its focus to a different kind of game, taking on one of the most popular franchises around.

A different perspective, far, far away

Shortly after its founding in Los Angeles, Respawn Entertainment secured a contract to develop a new Star Wars game. Unlike most Star Wars games that are first-person shooters, this one would be played from a third-person viewpoint and emphasize lightsaber combat.

Bringing together a team led by Stig Asmussen, the creative director of God of War III, Jason Zampella’s team created Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, widely considered one of the best Star Wars games in recent years. The game proved popular enough to launch a series, with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor released in 2023, and reports suggest a third game is currently being developed.

Okay, so the Jedi games aren’t just another Star Wars title – they’ve actually made a real impact. I mean, the main character, Cal Kestis, has shown up in other Star Wars stuff, and people are seriously hoping to see him in a live-action show or movie! It’s pretty cool that you can even buy a replica of his lightsaber at Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland. It shows how much the game resonated with fans.

Most people would be incredibly satisfied with this level of success. Years of hard work leading hugely popular films with massive budgets and large teams had clearly made a significant mark on popular culture, and brought substantial financial rewards. But for Zampella, much like his passion for fast cars, this wasn’t a time to rest – he was determined to keep pushing forward.

An irrefutable reminder

Zampella continued to demonstrate his talent by taking on a new challenge: leading the Battlefield franchise. Having already successfully guided both Medal of Honor and Call of Duty, he was entrusted with the Battlefield series in 2021, completing his leadership of three major first-person shooter games.

Surprisingly, Electronic Arts—the company he previously left and once aimed to undermine—appointed him to lead the entire Battlefield series. Zampella was given full control to revitalize the once-popular, but recently struggling, military simulation game.

By bringing together DICE, Criterion Games, Motive Studios, and Ripple Effect Studios – a team of thousands with a budget exceeding $400 million – Jason Zampella once again demonstrated his unique talent. He openly shared his vision from the start, and within just four years, this international team successfully revitalized the popular series.

Battlefield 6 came out earlier this year and has been a huge success, revitalizing the franchise with its largest-ever game. It sold over seven million copies in just three days, making it the best-selling Battlefield game of all time. The game has also clearly influenced this year’s Call of Duty release, Black Ops 7.

It seemed like Zampella had anticipated the enthusiastic reaction. When he took the stage in Los Angeles to reveal the new Battlefield, he didn’t just present the next installment – he excitedly announced it as “Battlefield freaking 6!”

Many talented game developers contributed to these projects over the years, and unfortunately, not all of them receive the recognition they deserve. However, Jason Zampella provided the leadership and support that allowed these developers to achieve incredible results and constantly innovate.

Despite all the challenges, he consistently stayed true to his character. Even when a project was at its most stressful, talking to him, you wouldn’t know it. He seemed to thrive under the pressure of leading major game development, a level of intensity most people would find overwhelming.

It’s unlikely anyone will achieve a career like his. He was a truly unique leader, and those who worked with him will find it difficult to find anyone as dedicated and passionate. Zampella was exceptional – unlike anyone else.

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2025-12-23 02:21