Why is gaming so expensive?

I've often wondered, why does gaming seem to get more and more expensive each year? With new games coming out constantly, the prices for these games just keep skyrocketing. It's not just the games themselves, but also the gaming hardware, controllers, and even in-game purchases. What is driving these rising costs? Is it just supply and demand, or are there other factors at play? As a gamer myself, I'm curious to know what the experts have to say about this issue. Is there anything we can do to mitigate these rising costs and keep gaming accessible to everyone?