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 linking its Call of Duty franchise to the 2022 Uvalde school shooting tragedy. Filed in May 2024 by families of the victims, the lawsuits contend that the shooter's exposure to Call of Duty's violent content contributed to the massacre.

The May 24, 2022, shooting at Robb Elementary School claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers, injuring 17 others. The shooter, a former Robb Elementary student, was a known Call of Duty player, having downloaded Modern Warfare in November 2021. He used an AR-15 rifle, similar to those depicted in the game. The lawsuits also implicated Meta, alleging its Instagram platform facilitated the shooter's connection to firearm manufacturers, exposing him to AR-15 advertisements. The plaintiffs argued that both Activision and Meta fostered a harmful environment that exploited vulnerable adolescents, indirectly encouraging violence.

Activision's December filing, a comprehensive 150-page response, vehemently denies all allegations. The company asserts there's no causal link between Call of Duty and the Uvalde tragedy, invoking California's anti-SLAPP laws to protect its free speech rights. The filing underscores Call of Duty's status as an expressive work protected by the First Amendment, arguing that claims based on its "hyper-realistic content" violate this fundamental right.

Expert Testimony Bolsters Activision's Defense

Supporting its defense, Activision submitted declarations from prominent experts. A 35-page statement from Notre Dame professor Matthew Thomas Payne contextualizes Call of Duty within the tradition of military realism found in film and television, directly refuting the lawsuit's "training camp" characterization. A separate 38-page declaration from Patrick Kelly, Call of Duty's head of creative, details the game's development process, 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, but the case highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the correlation between violent video games and mass shootings.