Activision vigorously defends Call of Duty against Uvalde lawsuit allegations. The company's comprehensive response, filed in December, refutes claims linking the game to the 2022 Robb Elementary School tragedy. This 150-page defense includes expert testimony countering the assertion that Call of Duty serves as "mass shooter training."
The May 2024 lawsuit, filed by Uvalde victims' families, alleges the shooter's exposure to Call of Duty's violent content contributed to the massacre. The shooter, an 18-year-old former Robb Elementary student, played Call of Duty regularly and used an AR-15 rifle, similar to one depicted in the game. The suit also names Meta, claiming Instagram facilitated the shooter's connection to firearm manufacturers.
Activision's defense, invoking California's anti-SLAPP laws and the First Amendment, emphasizes Call of Duty's status as protected expressive work. Supporting declarations from Notre Dame professor Matthew Thomas Payne and Call of Duty's creative head, Patrick Kelly, highlight the game's adherence to established military realism conventions in film and television, contradicting the "training camp" allegation. Kelly's submission details the game's substantial development budget.
The Uvalde families have until late February to respond to Activision's detailed filings. The case's outcome remains uncertain, but it underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the link between violent video games and mass shootings.
