CoD Maker Defends Suit Over Tex. School Tragedy

Activision Rebuts Claims Linking Call of Duty to Uvalde Tragedy

Activision Blizzard has filed a robust defense against lawsuits stemming from the devastating Uvalde school shooting, rejecting claims linking its Call of Duty franchise to the incident. The lawsuits, filed by victims' families in May 2024, allege the shooter's exposure to Call of Duty's violent content contributed to the tragedy.

The May 24, 2022, Robb Elementary School 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 known Call of Duty player, having downloaded Modern Warfare in November 2021. The lawsuits also implicated Meta (through Instagram) for allegedly facilitating connections between the shooter and firearm manufacturers.

Activision's December filing, a 150-page response to the California lawsuit, vehemently denies any causal link between Call of Duty and the shooting. The company invoked California's anti-SLAPP laws, designed to protect free speech from frivolous litigation, and argued that Call of Duty, as a form of artistic expression, is protected under the First Amendment. The company contends that characterizing the game's content as "hyper-realistic" and directly responsible is a violation of this fundamental right.

Expert Testimony and Game Development Details

To bolster its defense, Activision submitted declarations from key figures. Professor Matthew Thomas Payne of Notre Dame University provided a 35-page statement contextualizing Call of Duty within the established tradition of military-themed entertainment, refuting the lawsuit's "training camp" assertion. Patrick Kelly, Call of Duty's head of creative, contributed a 38-page document detailing the game's development process, including the substantial $700 million budget allocated to Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.

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