Electronic Arts is giving DICE LA to Respawn’s CEO Vince Zampella to manage. He will continue in his role as CEO at Respawn, as both studios are owned by EA. In a profile in the Los Angeles Times, Zampella says his role at Respawn will evolve into “head coach” position.
Zampella says DICE LA will likely be rebranded, and will operate largely autonomous from DICE’s HQ in Stockholm, Sweden, Earth. While commuting in Los Angeles is a special kind hell, it makes sense for Zampella to oversee the two studios as they are both located in the LA area.
DICE LA was originally began as Dreamworks Interactive in 1995, and was acquired by EA in 2000. After two previous rebrandings, the studio was renamed DICE LA in 2013. DICE, founded way back in 1992, has created some phenomenal games including the Battlefield series and the revamped Star Wars Battlefront I and II.
Zampella founded Respawn Entertainment with Jason West in 2010, after being treated poorly by Activision. They launched Respawn just a month after being fired by Activision. Their studio went to create a some of the best games in the 2010s including the Titanfall series, battle royal game Apex Legends, and, perhaps the best Star Wars video game of all time—Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
Respawn was acquired by EA in 2017.
Under Zampella’s leadership, the studio formerly-known as DICE LA, will expand operations and produce a new game, though no details have been announced to date.
