That's a fairly simplified view of the situation. I Think there's a lot of things at play but I would absolutely say cricket and games have never been more prominent. If Matts video of madness unfolding in Ashes can get to 150,000 views on YouTube imagine what a really good "Features List" video would do, showcasing the massive roll call of things in DBC14.
I don't think it's quite like that, but the negative reaction from the general public as well as the reaction here would absolutely given him pause. "What if we've missed something?" would be playing on his mind, he doesn't strike me as the kinda guy to not be sure he has his i's dotted, you know?
Maybe the extra time "given" by the Ashes fallout is a convenient excuse to shove the date a little to double-down on bug catching and game polishing?
I haven't always been totally convinced of 'the game is ready to go whenever' but I am totally convinced it's been a superior product all along. I think the caution comes more now from wanting to be absolutely certain there's nothing major they've missed.