Activision Rebuts Uvalde Shooting Lawsuit, Citing First Amendment Protections

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

The 150-page response, filed last December, contests all claims. Activision asserts that Call of Duty, as an expressive work, is protected under the First Amendment. The company's argument counters the plaintiffs' assertion that the game's "hyper-realistic content" fostered violent behavior. The defense also invokes California's anti-SLAPP laws to protect against strategic lawsuits against public participation.

Expert Testimony Bolsters Activision's Defense

Supporting its position, Activision submitted declarations from prominent experts. A 35-page statement from Notre Dame Professor Matthew Thomas Payne contextualizes Call of Duty within the broader tradition of military-themed entertainment, refuting the lawsuit's characterization of the game as a "training camp for mass shooters." Furthermore, a 38-page declaration from Patrick Kelly, Call of Duty's head of creative, details the game's development process, including budgetary information (e.g., the $700 million budget for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War).

Ongoing Legal Proceedings

The Uvalde families have until late February to respond to Activision's comprehensive defense. The case highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the potential influence of violent video games on real-world violence. The outcome remains uncertain, but the legal battle underscores the complexities of establishing a direct causal link between video game content and acts of violence.