FFXI was met with some extremely rough reviews and the game still lives and breathes, on a subscription model no less. a game can also be a critical success only to fall flat after a few months. SWTOR and GW2 are noteworthy examples.
tl;dr most of these media outlets serve as nothing more than a way to manufacture hype. and while hype sells boxes, it doesn't even *begin* to guarantee longevity or sustained success.
