No they didn't. They could have negotiated different terms, gone to a different publisher, became their own publisher.

This is the route they decided to take. I'm sure there were plenty of other factors tied to that decision, but it was still entirely their decision to make.

I don't know why you continually refuse to acknowledge the difference between making a decision and agreeing to allow something.

That would be because agreeing to allow something, is a decision.

A partnership with Sony and the terms that come with that were not forced upon Arrowhead, they decided to agree to it. Plain and simple.