The AFD and the Left in the German Election

The AFD seems to be now a part of the German and federal party system. But is it still the same party as in 2017? Or did they focus on different policy issues in this election? There wasn't a lot of talk about asylum policies or migration, something that typically drove voters to the AFD. And because the pandemic didn't play such a big role, they didn't have that mobilizing theme they had last time.