In a press release issued earlier today, 38 Studios announced the departure of Brett Close as president and CEO. Former senior vice president of business development Jennifer MacLean has stepped up to the plate, taking Close's position as new president and CEO of the company. The press release states that she "has more than fifteen years of experience in online content and interactive entertainment at companies such as Comcast, AOL, and MicroProse."

38 Studios is the brainchild of former MLB player Curt Schilling, an avid MMO and WoW fan and regular guest host on The Instance, a WoW podcast. The company has been quietly developing its own MMO (code-named "Copernicus") throughout the past few years, based on a new and original IP. "Curt Schilling, founder and chairman of 38 Studios, has noted that Close’s leadership prepared the company for its next phase of development, which MacLean will now drive forward," the official release adds.

After the story broke, 38 Studios spokesperson Andrea Schneider sent out an updated statement, clarifying the circumstances of Close's departure. "I just wanted to clarify that Brett Close resigned from 38 Studios to pursue other opportunities outside the company," she wrote. "38 Studios wished Brett the very best in his future endeavors."