power creep
Wasei-eigo term used in gaming, anime, and manga communities to describe the gradual increase in character or item power over time, often making older content obsolete.
wasei-eigo (Japanese-coined English), from power infla(tion)
This game has severe power creep, so old characters quickly become unusable.
To curb power creep, the developers implemented balance adjustments.
Wasei-eigo from English 'power' and 'inflation', abbreviated as インフレ. The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely emerged in Japanese gaming and otaku culture.