https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy_XI
You don't start a sequel to an MMO 3 years after its released if you think its doing great.
"In 2006, between 200,000 and 300,000 active players logged in per day, with 500,000 total active players and around 150,000 online at any one time.[59] In April 2009, Square Enix announced that the total number of active characters exceeded 2 million for the first time." They had pretty decent numbers a year after they started development
And If you read what I said I said it was a failure in their eyes. Wow was quickly rising and they thought they could/should do better.