At a DICE 2026 event honoring Vince Zampella, Hideo Kojima revealed he had once asked Zampella to collaborate on a Metal Gear game. According to VideoGamesChronicle, this discussion happened around 2008, shortly after the release of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.
Kojima also shared that he’d talked with Zampella after leaving Konami. He was looking for guidance from Zampella while starting Kojima Productions, as Zampella had successfully launched his own independent studio, Respawn Entertainment. Kojima believes Zampella has been a hugely important figure in the gaming world.
We don’t know the full story behind why this Metal Gear game, led by Zampella, was cancelled, other than it was intended to be a shooter. Given his success with Call of Duty, and the later release of Titanfall and Apex Legends, it probably would have been a very exciting and action-filled game.
The video included interviews with many key people in gaming, including renowned creators like Hideo Kojima, leaders from major companies such as Phil Spencer from Microsoft Gaming and Randy Pitchford of Gearbox, and well-known gaming journalists like Geoff Keighley.
According to Game File, Keighley shared that what impressed him most about the individual was their constant drive. They were never fully satisfied and always pushed for improvement, believing they could always create a better game, build a stronger company, and become a more effective leader.
Keighley described him as straightforward, intolerant of pointless things, and deeply committed to his team. He often joked about being on the verge of quitting any job, but that very attitude, Keighley explained, was what made him so valuable. He remained an outsider even while working within established systems, allowing him to prioritize players’ needs and encourage even large companies to try new things.
Vince Zampella tragically died in a car accident on Angeles Crest Highway in December. The crash, which happened at 12:45 PM, killed both people in his 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS. He was 55 years old and leaves behind a significant impact on the world of video games.
Frank Zampella helped create popular games such as the original Medal of Honor and the Call of Duty series. He co-founded Infinity Ward with Jason West and Grant Collier, and after several years at the studio and with Activision, both Zampella and West left to form Respawn Entertainment. There, they developed games like Titanfall, the Star Wars: Jedi series, and Apex Legends.
Vince Zampella, who previously led Respawn Entertainment, later became CEO of Ripple Effect (formerly DICE LA), a studio involved in the development of Battlefield 6. In this position, he took on responsibility for the entire Battlefield series. The newest Battlefield game launched in October for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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2026-02-12 18:42