Daybreak Game Company CEO John Smedley has stepped down from his position as Chief Executive Officer to take a leave of absence. In his place, former COO Russel Shanks will step in as president.

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Previously called Sony Entertainment Online, Daybreak is the publisher behind open-world survival game H1Z1 and the fantasy MMO EverQuest and has played important roles in the development and publishing of others, such as Planetside 2 and DC Universe Online . Due to overwhelming online harassment, Smedley is leaving his position and the company for a short time and will later return in a yet-undetermined role.Smedley helped the studio transition from the Sony-owned Sony Online Entertainment to becoming Daybreak Game Company once it was purchased by a private-equity group and made independent earlier this year.

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