Olivia R. July 11, 2019
LCS caster and analyst Sam "Kobe" Hartman-Kenzler announced earlier today that he will be pursuing projects outside of Riot Games.
"I will still work full-time on the LCS, which I love, but I'll also be working on additional projects outside of Riot that I'll share soon," Kobe said.
He then thanked Riot Games and his fans for supporting him.
Along with the announcement, Kobe changed his Twitter handle from @RiotKobe to the more general @esportsKobe.
It has not yet been made public what kind of projects Kobe will be pursuing outside of Riot Games, but fans are already supportive of his decision.
"One of the best, if not the best caster I've ever worked with. It's always an honor and I hope to get the chance again at worlds. You deserve every success," fellow caster Aaron "Medic" Chamberlain said in response.
Others jokingly speculated that Kobe was pursuing his dream of becoming a Teamfight Tactics pro.
Kobe has been a caster and analyst for the LCS since 2012. But he's been in the esports scene for even longer. Before beginning his full-time casting career, Kobe was a pro League of Legends player for Counter Logic Gaming, serving as the team's starting jungler.
Once he retired from the pro scene, Kobe became a shoutcaster for Riot Games. He quickly became one of the most well-known and well-liked shoutcasters in the scene. He has broadcasted for major League of Legends tournaments, including multiple World Championships. Kobe also hosts The Dive, a League of Legends podcast, and This or That, a weekly video show through which he discusses topics relating to League of Legends with fellow broadcaster CaptainFlowers.