Yeah, XVI's team is also working mostly remotely, seems like:

“We have already completed basic development and scenario production, and are continuing to create large-scale resources and build boss battles while expanding our various development tools,” the website reads. “Also, most of our staff are carrying out their work remotely.”

I think it's harder to develop a MMO remotely than a single player experience, both for infraestructure reasons and also the amount of retooling and whatever an update/expansion might have.

Now, though, the presentation values in XVI are obviously much higher, so there's also that, apart from it being a new IP in everything but name and having very precise-looking action combat.

I think we're looking at an Early 2022 game.