Reki Kawahara’s Sword Art Online left 2016 having wrapped up the Alicization arc, with the news that Kirito will return.
The year then saw “Moon Cradle,” a side story that takes place before the end of Alicization Arc in February’s volume 19 and September’s 20 of the light novels.
Going into 2018, we now have a name and a hint of what’s coming next.