By Sagar V. Mankar 
Activision Blizzard has issued a comprehensive response to lawsuits stemming from the tragic 2022 Uvalde school shooting, in which 19 children and two teachers lost their lives, and 17 others were injured.
The lawsuits, filed by families of the victims in May 2024, accuse Activision of “grooming” the shooter through its popular video game series, Call of Duty. This legal action also targets Instagram owner Meta and gun manufacturer Daniel Defense. The lawsuits allege that this “three-headed monster” exposed the 18-year-old perpetrator Salvador Ramos to weapons, conditioned him to view violence as a solution, and trained him in their use.
In response, Activision has firmly denied all accusations, asserting that there is no link between its game and the devastating incident. According to journalist Stephen Totilo, Activision’s defense spans nearly 150 pages of legal filings submitted in December 23, 2024. In a six-page rebuttal to the California lawsuit, Activision denied “each and every allegation” and argued there is no causation between Call of Duty and the shooting. The company also requested the lawsuit’s dismissal under California’s anti-SLAPP laws, which aim to protect free speech and prevent misuse of the legal system.
Activision highlighted that Call of Duty tells complex stories based on real-world combat scenarios, arguing the series is protected under the First Amendment. The publisher stated, “There can be no doubt Call of Duty is expressive and fully protected… The lawsuit’s claims conflict with this fundamental constitutional principle.”
Additionally, Call of Duty head of creative Patrick Kelly submitted a 38-page statement detailing the game’s development process and high cost associated with it. He refuted claims that the shooter learned about firearms from the game, explaining that the assault rifle image in question had been anonymized and was no longer featured in the loading screen by the time the shooter played.
The Uvalde families have until late February to respond to Activision’s filings, with the publisher’s reply expected in April. If the case proceeds to trial, it could take significant time to reach that stage.
Sources: Stephen Totilo’s Game File newsletter