Activision Defends in Uvalde Shooting Lawsuit

Activision Rejects Claims Linking Call of Duty to Uvalde Tragedy

Activision Blizzard vehemently denies allegations linking its Call of Duty franchise to the devastating Uvalde school shooting, asserting that the game's content is constitutionally protected under the First Amendment. The company's comprehensive defense, filed in response to lawsuits initiated by victim's families in May 2024, refutes claims suggesting the game served as a "training ground for mass shooters."

The May 24, 2022, Robb Elementary School shooting tragically claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers, injuring 17 more. The lawsuit alleges that the 18-year-old perpetrator, a former Robb Elementary student and regular Call of Duty player (having downloaded Modern Warfare in November 2021), was influenced by the game's violent content and used an AR-15 rifle, similar to those depicted in the game. The plaintiffs also implicated Meta, claiming Instagram facilitated the shooter's connection to firearm manufacturers, exposing him to AR-15 advertisements. The families contend that both Activision and Meta fostered a harmful environment that exploited vulnerable adolescents, indirectly encouraging violence.

Activision's December filing, a 150-page rebuttal, comprehensively rejects these claims. The company's defense, which includes a motion to dismiss under California's anti-SLAPP laws (protecting free speech from frivolous lawsuits), highlights Call of Duty's status as expressive content protected by the First Amendment. The company argues that accusations based on the game's "hyper-realistic content" directly violate this fundamental right.

Supporting its position, Activision submitted expert declarations. 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 countering the "training camp" assertion. A further 38-page declaration from Patrick Kelly, Call of Duty's head of creative, details 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 documentation. The outcome remains uncertain, but the case underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the link between violent video games and mass shootings, a recurring theme in similar tragedies.