we've known it was more action-based since last E3. and it's a new world, no ties whatsoever to FF8. In fact, it's closer to the XIII games and Type-0 than those, as it was part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis series back when it was Versus XIII.
also the FF8 Behemoth design is based off of older Behemoth designs as seen in FF2, FF4, and FF5. As an aside, the Goblins are based off of the FF2 design and those mammoth things in the field are Garulas from FF5.
oh and the Junction system in FF8 is literally just an evolution of the Esper system from FF6.