But they did have data to predict such a spike. But you have to look at more than just FFXIV's numbers to see it. Which is what their market analysts would be doing as part of their job.
WoW's numbers steadily trending downward over the past 10 years.
FFXIV's number steadily trending upward, and showing an increase in rate of growth in the past five years.
Another thing market analysts watch is investors and stock holders, and Blizzard's position in that regard was already hurting going back several years.
Streamers starting to show lack of interest in WoW and increased interest in FFXIV, prior to the spike in 2021 (this spike that you keep focusing on as though no other data exists), shows a very high possibility of a mass exodus on the horizon. If not for the lawsuit against Blizz, this exodus would still be on the horizon and a very likely event.
There were numerous indications that they needed to act BEFORE the launch. Much this data goes back five and more years. So your claim of not having data? Market analytics exists for the very reason of predicting problems like this. And they look years ahead based on years of established data.
