Nintendo and Microsoft Reach Land Development Agreement

Nintendo and Microsoft, competitors in the video game world, have also found themselves competing for undeveloped land in Redmond, according to a Seattle Post-Intelligencer report. Nintendo submitted a complaint against Microsoft's announced plans to erect new buildings along its campus, and filed a proposal renewing its rights to develop a plot of land along the north side of Nintendo's existing property. Another problem arose when the two software giants' proposals, taken together, would have exceeded a city-imposed cap on the allotted amount of developed land in the region. The cap allows for only 2.62 million square feet to be developed in the area of Redmond in question, whereas Nintendo and Microsoft's filings would have added up to 2.84 million square feet. Furthermore, the city frowned on the lack of space the two proposals would have left for other businesses to expand in the same area. To solve the issue, Microsoft voluntarily scaled back its expansion plans, which left 251,000 square feet out of its previous proposal. The revised proposal fell within the development cap while leaving 100,000 square feet for development by companies other than Nintendo or Microsoft. Microsoft, however, hopes to retain the right to pursue development for the yielded portion should other development be less than expected, or should the development cap on the area be raised.