Activision Submits Extensive Defense in Call of Duty Uvalde School Shooting Lawsuit

Activision Rebuts Uvalde Lawsuit Claims, Citing First Amendment Protections

Activision Blizzard has filed a robust defense against lawsuits linking its Call of Duty franchise to the 2022 Uvalde school shooting. Filed in May 2024 by families of the victims, the lawsuits allege the shooter's exposure to the game's violent content contributed to the tragedy.

Activision's December filing, totaling 150 pages, vehemently denies any causal link between Call of Duty and the Robb Elementary School massacre. The company argues the lawsuits are baseless and seeks dismissal under California's anti-SLAPP laws, designed to protect free speech from frivolous litigation. The defense emphasizes Call of Duty's status as expressive content protected by the First Amendment, directly challenging claims that its "hyper-realistic" nature violates this right.

The defense incorporates expert testimony refuting the plaintiffs' assertion that Call of Duty serves as "training camp for mass shooters." A 35-page declaration from Notre Dame professor Matthew Thomas Payne contextualizes the game's military realism within the broader tradition of war-themed films and television. Further bolstering the defense is a 38-page statement from Patrick Kelly, Call of Duty's head of creative, detailing the game's development, including the substantial $700 million budget allocated to Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.

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