The rising cost of videogames, how two companies did something about it

[Bodhesatva]

I think the answer is "make cheaper games and stop pushing the tech envelope."

Costs will gradually come down, due to middleware improvements and greater knowledge in the industry (that is, arists  and renderers become more efficient as they have more time to become accustomed to specific toolsets).

I honestly do not think there is an answer that magically solves everything.