This is true in pretty much every sector of consumer tech, btw. Indie games typically lag behind the leading edge of technical specifications. Generally speaking, it's the AAA games that are requiring you to upgrade to the latest console or chip. The giant, cinematic, hyper-detailed experiences they're selling you are as much about filling excess capacity as they are about world building. I haven't seen any studies, but logically, it follows that indie games are better for the environment.