MS acquired Arkhane in 2020. Thats 3 years. Maybe 2.5 years of dev time that couldve been better spent on something else.
Sorry but I think I have to make some notes about what you are commenting on even though I could agree if it weren't for those "notes"
The Bethesda-Zenimax agreement was announced in October 2020, but closed in June 2021. It would be less than 2 years under the "control" of MS. And I say "MS control" because in reality Bethesda works independently of XGS (decide his own projects, own director, own advertising...).
Bleeding Edge had one full year of dev time after they acquired NT. Imagine if Hellblade 2 got that extra year of dev time. It would release a full year earlier than whenever it is releasing now.
Bleeding Edge was developed by a very small team of only 9? Devs. I don't think it was the reason for the long development of Hellblade 2.
Hellblade2 long development period has more to do with a lot of reasons:
1-Unlike HB 1, H2 is a AAA project.
2-The studio has had to contract to almost double its size in terms of devs.
3-Change to a new Studio, creation of a Motion Capture Studio... and this in the middle of a pandemic.
4- The most importante for me.The Studio decided to wait for UE5. As we know it is an engine still under development and no games on the market. That has been an important reason.
Sometimes its best to kill shitty products even if they are 3 years into development. Thats why the execs get paid the big bucks. They dont make the games but they need to be able to discern trash early on.
But that is a double-edged sword.
MS would then be blamed for "not leaving creative freedom" to the Studios or for submitting them.
The best option was supposed to be to not participate in Bethesda/Pite Hines decisions as long as they act independently.
The reality in the end is that it will be good or bad depending on the result of the product. But in the case of Redfall I think MS just relied on the Studio and its track record of well-reviewed products.