Anyone who thinks, that Ninja theory just came out of the blue, with such an idea for a game, have not been paying attention for the last minute...….Ninja Theory had issues finding publishers, they decided that they should change the formula......They went on to self publish Hellblade way below 10 million and initially had the intention of offering the game in chapters like hitman, but they changed their mind and the game was delayed and they streamlined the game into a single package....
It's been a while since Tameem had been searching for financial backing, I'm pretty sure they spoke to many publishers......Sony was not going the exclusive route with them clearly after they gave them 20 million for Heavenly Sword, that is clear as Sony even let Quantic Dream have free reign after Detroit or Supermassive after Until Dawn.....
The point is, Ninja Theory was having talks with MS for a long time, deals don't just materialize overnight.....They had good talks and everything was promising and both parties knew that's where this would end up......NT had to tie certain things up and from there they've been working on a smoother transition to an MS takeover......You think MS would not communicate what type of games they were looking forward to whilst having these talks? Games that would help their gamepass service? If you want MS to buy you out, you better work on something MP, it's part of their schtick....MS has a highly MP/LIVE/DUDEBRO type motif, it's their DNA....So of course MS influenced this game.....A studio that has never done an MP game before?
It's the same with Darrell Gallagher, you think, he didn't know he would end up at MS, he was working towards that years before the shift, had these TR deals with MS all these years, you think that was just for shits and giggles...? Now he is the boss of The Initiative....Obviously he had somethings to tie up at his old studios, maybe some contracts or obligations, but such things don't just materialize overnight......So to say MS had no say or influence in Ninja Theory's new game is really a stroll down naivety lane...