Jeffrey Epstein's fingerprints appear on one of the most hated features in modern gaming. Emails released January 30, 2026, from the massive Epstein file dump show Epstein and his advisors discussing microtransactions with former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick back in May 2013.
Futurist Pablos Holman, part of Epstein's circle, wrote in one email about the potential to "indoctrinate kids into an economy" through in-game purchases. The conversation centered on personalization packs, extra slot packs, and paid calling cards, the first microtransactions Activision tested in Call of Duty: Black Ops II, which launched in November 2012.
Those items rolled out starting April 12, 2013, just months after the emails.
Holman and Epstein wanted to get kids hooked early, spending real money on worthless virtual items. Kotick, who ran Activision Blizzard until 2023, was right there in the conversation. Maybe Epstein didn't force the change himself, but he and his network were clearly in the room, pushing for it when it mattered most.
This revelation comes as no surprise to conservative gamer YouTubers who have spent years calling out the gaming industry's slide into greed.
Creators like Asmongold, TheQuartering, and others have hammered microtransactions, loot boxes, and pay-to-win mechanics as exploitative, especially when targeted at children. They point to how these systems turn games into slot machines, preying on impulse and addiction while publishers rake in billions.
The dirt keeps piling up. From Ubisoft's live-service flops to EA's battle with loot box regulations, the industry faces constant backlash. Epstein's involvement adds a darker layer, a predator not just in real life but apparently meddling in digital spaces where kids spend hours and parents' money. We also know he himself was banned from Xbox Live in 2013 for threats and worse against children online.
Epstein's advisors also floated investing in Activision stock in 2018, praising Black Ops 4's Blackout mode as a Fortnite rival before its release. That ties back to the same corporate mindset that prioritizes endless revenue streams over any level of care for the player (customer).
Conservative voices in gaming have been right all along. They warned that microtransactions would ruin the soul of games, turning passion projects into cash grabs. They’ve dug deep into the industry's corruption for years, but little has changed, and it seems to be headed in a worse direction.
Now the Epstein files show a monster like him drooling over the profit potential in grooming kids to spend. Using and grooming children was a disgusting, regular habit of his, as we know.
The industry needs to face this rot head-on, ditch the predatory monetization, and return to making games worth playing without emptying wallets.
Until then, the warnings from those YouTubers will keep ringing true, but the suits who ruin franchises (Dragon Age, Halo), and rip off parents through microtransactions (Fortnite, GTA Online, and many others), keep counting money.