Activision Rebuts Claims Linking Call of Duty to Uvalde Tragedy

Activision 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 tragedy. The May 2024 lawsuits claim the shooter's exposure to the game's violent content contributed to the massacre at Robb Elementary School.

The May 24, 2022, shooting claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers, injuring 17 more. The shooter, 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 original complaint also implicated Meta, alleging Instagram facilitated the shooter's connection to firearm manufacturers and exposure to AR-15 advertisements. The families argued that both Activision and Meta fostered a harmful environment that exploited vulnerable adolescents, indirectly encouraging violent behavior.

Activision's December filing, a comprehensive 150-page response, rejects all allegations. The company asserts no direct connection exists between Call of Duty and the Robb Elementary tragedy, simultaneously invoking California's anti-SLAPP laws to protect its free speech rights. The publisher further contends that Call of Duty, as a form of artistic expression, is protected under the First Amendment, arguing that claims based on its "hyper-realistic content" infringe upon this constitutional 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 aligns with established conventions in war films and television. A separate 38-page declaration from Patrick Kelly, Call of Duty's head of creative, details the game's development, citing the $700 million budget for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War as an example of its scale.

The Uvalde families have until late February to respond to Activision's extensive documentation. The case's outcome remains uncertain, but it underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the relationship between violent video games and mass shootings, a recurring theme in similar legal battles.