Activision Submits Extensive Defense in Call of Duty Uvalde School Shooting Lawsuit

Activision Rebuts Uvalde Lawsuit Claims, Citing First Amendment Protections

Activision Blizzard has filed a robust defense against lawsuits connecting its Call of Duty franchise to the 2022 Uvalde school shooting, vehemently denying any causal link. The lawsuits, filed by victim families in May 2024, contend that the shooter's exposure to Call of Duty's violent content contributed to the tragedy.

The May 24, 2022, massacre at Robb Elementary School claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers, injuring 17 others. The 18-year-old perpetrator, a former Robb Elementary student, was a known Call of Duty player, having downloaded Modern Warfare in November 2021. He employed an AR-15 rifle, similar to those depicted in the game. The plaintiffs allege that Activision, alongside Meta (via Instagram), fostered a harmful environment that normalized violence and weaponized marketing, indirectly encouraging the shooter's actions.

Activision's December filing, a comprehensive 150-page response to the California lawsuit, refutes all allegations. The company asserts the absence of a direct causal relationship between Call of Duty and the Uvalde shooting, simultaneously invoking California's anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) laws to protect its free speech rights. The publisher further emphasizes Call of Duty's status as an expressive work shielded by the First Amendment, arguing that claims based on its "hyper-realistic content" infringe upon this constitutional right.

Strengthening its defense, Activision submitted expert declarations. Professor Matthew Thomas Payne of Notre Dame University contributed a 35-page statement contextualizing Call of Duty within the established tradition of military realism in film and television, directly countering the lawsuit's "training camp" assertion. Patrick Kelly, Call of Duty's head of creative, provided a 38-page document detailing the game's development, including the substantial $700 million budget allocated to Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.

The Uvalde families have until late February to respond to Activision's extensive documentation. The outcome remains uncertain, yet the case underscores the ongoing societal debate surrounding the alleged link between violent video games and mass shootings.