Activision Defends in Call of Duty Uvalde Case

Activision Rejects Claims Linking Call of Duty to Uvalde Tragedy

Activision Blizzard has filed a robust defense against lawsuits filed by Uvalde shooting victims' families, vehemently denying any causal link between its Call of Duty franchise and the 2022 Robb Elementary School tragedy. The lawsuits, filed in May 2024, allege the shooter's exposure to Call of Duty's violent content contributed to the massacre.

The May 24, 2022, shooting claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers, injuring 17 more. The shooter, an 18-year-old former Robb Elementary student, was a known Call of Duty player, having downloaded Modern Warfare in November 2021. The lawsuits also implicated Meta, alleging its Instagram platform facilitated the shooter's access to firearm advertisements. The families contend that both Activision and Meta fostered an environment conducive to violent behavior among vulnerable adolescents.

Activision's December filing, a comprehensive 150-page response, refutes all accusations. The company asserts the absence of any direct connection between Call of Duty and the Uvalde tragedy, invoking California's anti-SLAPP laws to protect its First Amendment rights. The publisher further emphasizes Call of Duty's status as protected expressive work, arguing that claims based on its "hyper-realistic content" infringe upon these fundamental rights.

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 within the established tradition of military realism in film and television. A separate 38-page declaration from Patrick Kelly, Call of Duty's head of creative, details the game's development, including the $700 million budget for 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 alleged connection between violent video games and mass shootings.