Set in the Aegis War, the Driver-Blade mechanic is gone and instead you control characters like Addam, Mythra, Brighid, Minoth, Lora, etc. directly, they all have 7 arts but characters like Addam for example can't upgrade their weapons with core chips. Also, there's blade data for Jin, Haze and I think Malos too so they will probably be rewards or something. Oh, and Shulk and Fiora return as blades, Shulk has the Monado and his upgrade dialogue is on 4chan, I don't know if I'm allowed to link it though. He also has a "I'm really feeling it" taunt, because of course he would.