- Primary Subject: Call of Duty
- Key Update: Reports highlight old emails referencing Jeffrey Epstein in conversations about digital reward systems, prompting debate over early microtransaction-era thinking.
- Status: Leaked
- Last Verified: February 2, 2026
- Quick Answer: Emails reportedly show Epstein included in discussions about digital rewards with industry figures, but there’s no evidence he created or directed Call of Duty’s microtransactions.
Recent releases from the so-called Epstein document cache have sparked an unusual controversy in the gaming world, after correspondence surfaced linking Jeffrey Epstein to discussions about in-game reward systems years before microtransactions became deeply embedded in modern titles.
While Epstein had no official role in the games industry, several reports highlight a 2013 email exchange involving him, futurist Pablo Holman, and then-Activision CEO Bobby Kotick.
The conversation reportedly centered on incentive structures, with references to real-world rewards and digital items inside games.
Holman’s reply in the discussion was said to back the idea of exposing younger users to an economic framework through these systems, wording that has since sparked backlash from players who link it to microtransaction psychology.
Did These Conversations Coincide With a Turning Point for the Franchise?
The reason this stands out within the Call of Duty community is its timing, with the May 2013 emails coinciding with Activision Blizzard’s early move toward paid content in Call of Duty: Black Ops II.
That title marked the franchise’s first major step into optional cosmetic purchases, including personalization packs, extra create-a-class slots, and calling cards.
While tame by modern store standards, these additions marked a turning point, as revenue no longer came only from the base game and map packs, but from ongoing small purchases linked to personalization.
How Did Call of Duty’s Monetization Expand After That Point?
Monetization accelerated following Black Ops II, as newer games brought in voice bundles, character outfits, weapon camouflage options, crossover items, and the now-standard CoD Points currency.
To critics, the leaked correspondence appears to align philosophically with this shift, because the emails describe reward loops and virtual goods in a way that mirrors how live-service economies operate today.
Supporters of that interpretation argue the documents show monetization was discussed not only as a revenue stream but as a behavioral framework designed to normalize spending habits among younger audiences.
Were There Broader Connections Between Kotick and Epstein?
Beyond the monetization topic, the files reportedly show that Kotick’s name appears hundreds of times (often summarized as “300+ mentions/results”) throughout the broader document set, indicating repeated communication with Epstein’s network on various matters over multiple years.
Invitations to private events, attempted meetings, and continued correspondence are said to be present, though none of this alone establishes direct business collaboration.
Does This Prove Epstein Caused Microtransactions in Call of Duty?
Importantly, the documents do not provide evidence that Epstein created, approved, or directly implemented monetization systems at Activision.
In the email chain being circulated, Jeffrey Epstein is not shown “designing microtransactions” or issuing a direct instruction.
His role in the thread, as presented in the excerpts, is that he’s part of the conversation and a recipient/participant while other people talk through ideas about incentives, rewards, and using digital items as part of a broader behavior-shaping system.
The most direct “proposal-style” language in the excerpts comes from Bobby Kotick. In that message, he frames the topic as incentives and argues that the key isn’t just some abstract prize, but rewards that feel tangible or meaningful.
After Pablo Holman replies, the discussion becomes less about corporate incentives and more about ideological ideas.
The excerpt attributed to him is that he’s “all for indoctrinating kids into an economy.”
However, separate from the 2013 microtransaction-adjacent email thread, reports also claim that in 2018 Epstein was advised by associates to buy Activision stock—often framed around expectations that new Call of Duty-related releases/modes could perform well.
For more like this, stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com, the best website for gaming news.