They were already way in development by that point. Companies do know live service isn't the bubble they thought it would be but it's either lose all investments or get some return in the hope they hit the mass. Where they really fucked up is with the delay. Looks like nothing has changed as has put them in the fire with the end of fiscal year 2023. It's also coming out same day as Persona 3 Reload which will likely be a heavily praised single player game. At least last April we hadn't hit the maelstrom of "GOTY each week".