Activision Defends Against Uvalde Suit

Activision Rebuts Claims Linking Call of Duty to Uvalde Tragedy

Activision Blizzard has filed a robust defense against lawsuits filed by Uvalde school shooting victims' families, rejecting claims that Call of Duty content influenced the shooter. The lawsuits, initiated in May 2024, allege a link between the game's violent content and the Robb Elementary School tragedy.

The May 24, 2022, shooting claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers, injuring 17 more. The 18-year-old perpetrator, a former Robb Elementary student, was a known Call of Duty player, having downloaded Modern Warfare in November 2021 and using an AR-15 rifle—similar to one depicted in the game. The plaintiffs contend that Activision, alongside Meta (through Instagram's role in connecting the shooter with firearm manufacturers), fostered a harmful environment that indirectly encouraged violence.

Activision's December filing, a 150-page response, vehemently denies any causal relationship between Call of Duty and the Uvalde shooting. The company invoked California's anti-SLAPP laws, designed to protect free speech from frivolous lawsuits, seeking dismissal. Furthermore, Activision asserted Call of Duty's status as a First Amendment-protected expressive work, arguing that the lawsuit's claims regarding "hyper-realistic content" infringe upon this right.

Expert Testimony Bolsters Activision's Defense

Supporting its position, Activision submitted expert declarations. A 35-page statement from Notre Dame professor Matthew Thomas Payne counters the lawsuit's "training camp" assertion, arguing that Call of Duty's military realism aligns with established conventions in war 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 allocated to Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.

The Uvalde families have until late February to respond to Activision's extensive defense. The outcome remains uncertain, but this case highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the connection between violent video games and mass shootings.