Its been several days since it happened. Global news have delivered a dry statement: Vince Zampella, an American video game designer has died on 21 December 2025 in the car crash. He was only 55 years old.
Several decades ago, it would be just another sad new. But now I realize that he was Master of his craft, akin to artist of Renaissance. That his work affected more people than most politicians or religious leaders ever dream of. Vince Zampella had a vision for his games, and he understood the simple truths of those games he brought to life. He innovated and brought life to the pixels on screen. He made player care for the game he played.
May be that is why he had to fight for it, so many times against the corporate bloodsuckers, who see games only as a soulless compilation of metrics and gamers only as wallets to drain. Innovations are unpredictable, making worst kind of fear for them.
He and his team gave birth to incredible first person shooter games that put player in the middle of historic events like Normandy landings or Stalingrad defense. Call of Duty and Medal of Honor, became the staples of FPS genre, despite Battlefield excellent graphics.
His third, the most difficult album, was Titanfall. A unique approach to FPS game, where player is already better than most of AI enemies on the map, since he is a Pilot, a unique warrior with heightened reflexes, jet pack and ability to fight during parkour stuns. Then during the same match, player would face a Titan, both his and opponents in incredible fight of tactics, speed and skill.
Since Titanfall 2 release in October 2016, no a single other game was able to replicate or come close to its adrenaline fueled formula. It would be understatement to say that Titanfall was an instant success. Both games had its flaws and could use more development time. Being deliberately placed between two flagship releases didn't help. But that is not the developers fault, but the stupidity of EA's marketing.
Despite setbacks with first Titanfall and mediocre success of second part, Zampella and his team knew what they created: a world where people wanted to play. They noticed rise in popularity of "Royal battle" games, and took the best parts of Titanfall into Apex Legends.
This game a has became a formative game of entire generation, like Doom in early 90's, Counter-Strike and Halo in early 2000's and Battlefield in 2010's.
Apex Legends is one of most popular games in existence. But it also, unique spin to the genre: players work in teams of 3, the map is much larger, the cohesion between character's abilities is as important as teamwork, and pick up in the filed are game changers. New re-work of characters abilities is still too fresh for me to comment, but it shows that game is alive and growing in popularity and complexity.
Zampella's Respawn Entertainment has made another unexpected game: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, an incredibly fun and story rich and engaging adventure in tune with classic Star Wars made by George Lucas. While Disney was doing everything to alienate its core audience, to destroy everything what made a Star Wars universe so loved, and popular, Respawn made a good game that brought hope to the fans and lots of good times to those who spent time with it. That alone, is a great achievement, especially set on the background of cultural war raging in America.
Latest revival of Battlefield 6 has became a swansong for Vince Zampella. His talent and dedication has turned a game that abysmally failed in both quality and popularity and brought it back to the roots.
He brought it back to the players as engaging, fun and immersive experience. Players answered with millions of purchases and universal praise of the game.
But now he is gone.
If you looked at some his photos over the years in the gaming industry, you could see an eyes of wise warrior. The eyes of a man who had fought hard to get his ideas to players, who has suffered injustice and overcame it, who has seen far too many deadline and crunch hours. But despite all that, he never lost his love for his art, never lost his childish enthusiasms for games.
Rest in Peace, Vince Zampella.
My thoughts and prayers are going to your family and loved ones.
