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

Activision Rebuts Uvalde Lawsuit Claims, Invoking First Amendment Rights

Activision Blizzard has filed a robust defense against lawsuits filed by Uvalde school shooting victims' families, refuting claims linking its Call of Duty franchise to the tragedy. The May 2024 lawsuits allege the shooter's exposure to Call of Duty's violent content contributed to the horrific event.

The May 24, 2022, Robb Elementary School shooting claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers, injuring 17 more. The 18-year-old shooter, a former Robb Elementary student, was a Call of Duty player, having downloaded Modern Warfare in November 2021 and using an AR-15 rifle, similar to those depicted in the game. The original lawsuit also implicated Meta, alleging its Instagram platform facilitated the shooter's connection to firearm manufacturers and exposure to AR-15 advertisements. The families contend both Activision and Meta fostered a harmful environment encouraging violent behavior in vulnerable youth.

Activision's December filing, a 150-page response to the California lawsuit, categorically denies any causal link between Call of Duty and the tragedy. The company seeks dismissal under California's anti-SLAPP laws, protecting free speech from frivolous litigation. The defense highlights Call of Duty's status as an expressive work protected by the First Amendment, arguing that accusations based on its "hyper-realistic content" infringe upon this fundamental right.

Supporting its defense, Activision submitted expert declarations. A 35-page statement from Notre Dame professor Matthew Thomas Payne counters the lawsuit's "training camp" assertion, contextualizing Call of Duty's military realism within the broader tradition of war-themed films and television. Patrick Kelly, Call of Duty's head of creative, contributed a 38-page document detailing the game's development, including the $700 million budget for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.

The extensive documentation submitted by Activision awaits a response from the Uvalde families, due by late February. The legal battle's outcome remains uncertain, but the case underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the relationship between violent video games and mass shootings.