Are they going to have separate character slots now? Are do they share a slot with their counterparts like the previous games?

yup they are going to be separate slots now

No they explained that Samus won't turn to zerosuit after her smash, so I expect the others to also have another slot.

I think they will be separate slots since it seems like you cant change them in game

They could make it where the same slot is used to choose between the two characters, but I think they might be in separate slots now as they have updated their move sets as well.

Looks like separate slots to me, not that it really matters. They are separate characters which is all that matters (and a splendid change)

Separate slots.

In fact, Zero Suit Samus reminds me of Bayonetta. I wonder if they planned to add Bayonetta and something went wrong so they converted it to ZSS.

Probably cause her final smash would include stripping of somesort since her clothes are made out of her hair

The second they showed those shoes, I was thinking how similar she appeared to Bayo.

Bayo looks less likely to be in the game now :(