That definitely is the line we hear from CEOs when they raise prices, cut labor costs, and over monetize. Do you have any proof that production costs for games have gone up more than any other industry has? They pretty famously don’t pay game developers very well compared to other programming positions so I don’t know where this inordinate cost inflation would be coming from.
As funny as it is to picture in your head I don’t think it’s appropriate to wear a costume and do a funny bit when you may be deciding if someone gets to keep their children or lose their house. The other person involved sounds like an uptight liar, but I i think maybe all of these people kinda suck.