ources close to Game Informer Online have leaked news that Nintendo of America plans on relocating their large sales and marketing force from their headquarters in Redmond, Washington this year. Both San Francisco and New York were pointed at as being the potential targets for new locations.

Employees of Nintendo of America were told on Thursday that they would have to decide by June 1st whether or not they would be willing to relocate or accept a severance package. Our sources indicated these new offices would be opened as early as this Fall.

Originally Nintendo of America was created in New York City in 1980, and then later merged its facilities in Redmond, Washington in 1982. The Nintendo of America offices in Redmond not only house the sales and marketing forces, they’re also home to localization, the Treehouse, testing, customer service, events and planning, human resources, the Nintendo Power magazine, North American product warehouses, and more. Nintendo also has a manufacturing plant in North Bend, which is about 30 minutes east of Redmond. How this will affect these divisions, or if other divisions will be forced to move is still unknown at this point.

This move will affect a number of employees, most of which have been there for many years. We’ve contacted Nintendo of America and are still waiting for official word. We’ll keep you posted.