Activision Files Defense in CoD 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 May 2024 lawsuits allege a link between the game's violent content and the 2022 Robb Elementary tragedy.

The May 24, 2022, 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. He used an AR-15 rifle, similar to one depicted in the game. The lawsuit also implicated Meta, alleging Instagram facilitated the shooter's connection with firearm manufacturers. The families contend that both Activision and Meta fostered a harmful environment encouraging violent behavior in vulnerable adolescents.

Activision's December filing, a 150-page response to the California lawsuit, vehemently 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 lawsuits. Furthermore, Activision asserts Call of Duty is protected under the First Amendment as an expressive work, arguing that criticisms based on "hyper-realistic content" infringe upon this 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, arguing Call of Duty's military realism mirrors that of established 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 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 connection between violent video games and mass shootings.